T XII. 



NORTH CAROLINA AND ITS FISHERIES. 



A. GENERAL REVIEW OF THE FISHERY INTERESTS OF THE 



STATE 



167. GEOGRAPHY OF THE COAST. 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION. The coast of North Carolina, which is about 300 miles in length, 

 resembles somewhat in its general characteristics certain portions of New Jersey. Its outer shore 

 in the northern and central portions is simply a bar of sand separating the waters of the ocean 

 from those of an enormous inland sound system. This bar is constantly changing in form and 

 shape under the action of winds and waves, and within the memory of many of the residents a 

 number of new inlets have "cut out," while others have been completely closed. At the present 

 time there are but six openings through this bar between the Virginia line and Cape Lookout, all 

 of them being shoal and barred on either side so that vessels of small size only can enter. The 

 region is thus practically cut off from direct communication with the ocean, though it is connected 

 with the Chesapeake by means of canals. In the central portion of the State the inland sounds 

 are much smaller, most of them being shoal and narrow lagoons running parallel with the coast. 

 Farther south we find a wide belt of low, marshy islands, separated by numerous tide channels 

 and salt-water creeks. The outer bars, or "banks," as they are locally called, average about half 

 a mile in breadth, and with the exception of a few isolated spots where shrubs and trees occur 

 they are bald ridges of drifting sand, almost destitute of vegetation. Owing to this fact they have 

 few inhabitants, these living in small isolated communities and depending largely upon the water 

 for their support. The mainland bordering the coast region is, for the most part, low and swampy, 

 the scattered population living in the more elevated portions, where the land is well adapted for 

 farming. A few live in the vicinity of the wooded tracts, and during a portion of the year devote 

 their attention to lumbering interests, cutting and shipping large quantities of pine timber. There 

 are few settlements of any size along the shore, the only ones of importance within the limits of 

 the State being Wilmington, New Berne, Beaufort, and Morehead City, the last two being sepa- 

 rated from each other only by a shallow bay scarcely a mile in breadth. 



The fisheries of the region are quite important, as every oue living near the water catches fish 

 enough for family use, while many salt considerable quantities to be shipped to other portions of 

 the State in exchange for corn. Within the last few years a trade has been developed in fresh 



fish; shad, mullet, and trout being sent to Baltimore and Norfolk from Wilmington, Beaufort, and 



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