NORTH CAROLINA: THE MORE IMPORTANT DISTRICTS. 483 



a long and narrow strip of sand kuown as "The Banks." It communicates with the sea through 

 several narrow openings that have been cut through the bar by the waves and currents. The 

 water varies greatly in saltuess in different localities. In the vicinity of the iulets it is as salt as 

 that of the ocean, but in portions more remote it is usually quite fresh. During certain seasons of 

 the year a large part of it becomes brackish. It may, however, be considered as a sheet of salt 

 water, with a fauna similar to that of the adjoining sea-coast. 



On the west the land is low and marshy, and the settlements are small and widely separated. 

 The fishing of this region, with the exception of that in Croatau Sound and in the larger rivers for 

 shad, is limited to the capture of a few mullet (M. albula and braziliensis), spot (L. xanthurus), and 

 hogfish (Diabasis sp.), for family use. 



" THE BANKS" AND 'JHEIR INHABITANTS. The land along the eastern side, locally known as 

 "The Banks," is for the most part a ridge of low and barren sand hills, with only here and there 

 a small ''hummock" or wooded district, having a thin layer of vegetable mold. It is separated 

 from the mainland by distances varying from 3 to 30 miles, and is quite cut off from communica- 

 tion with the outside world. Formerly this region was the home of a class of wreckers, who lived 

 chiefly by plunder, but owing to the. establishment of light-houses and life-saving stations along the 

 shore, the number of wrecks Las been greatly diminished, and the people have been obliged to turn 

 their attention to fishing, clamming, and oystering. Most of the men own boats and nets, while 

 others have small vessels for trading with the inhabitants of the mainland. Those who are unable 

 to own a fishing outfit usually share that of a neighbor, giving him a part of the catch as an 

 equivalent. 



THE VARIOI^S FISHERIES OF THE REGION. The fishing is not extensive, and there are no large 

 seines or pounds requiring the labor of any considerable number of men. The people do not fish 

 with any regularity, many of them going out only during the height of the season, or when neces- 

 sity compels. The region is so far removed from any market, that, with the exception of the blue- 

 fish taken in winter, all the fish are salted. The catch is usually taken to the mainland and 

 exchanged with the inhabitants along the larger rivers for corn or other produce. Barter is the 

 common method of trade, and many a man with a large family has less than $50 in money during 

 the entire year. 



In January, parties having vessels or large boats are engaged in gathering oysters and clams, 

 which they exchange with the people of the mainland for corn, at the rate of a bushel of oysters 

 to a bushel of ears of corn. This business continues till April, when nearly all turn their attention 

 to their small garden patches, where they raise such vegetables as are needed for their family nse. 

 The summer fishing is quite small, and only for local supply. A few of the vessel owners engage 

 in a traffic called "shelling" at this season. This consists in the gathering of small oysters, which 

 are sold for fertilizing purposes at from 3 to 5 cents a bushel. Early in September the fishing 

 becomes quite extensive, and all of the fishermen are soon engaged in the capture of hogfish, 

 spot, mullet, trout (Cynoscion regale), and small bluefish, for salting. Gill-nets and seines, 75 to 

 125 yards in length, are used in this fishery. When a good fishing ground is reached, several of 

 the fishermen work together setting their nets in the form of a circle around a school of fish. The 

 size of the circle is then gradually reduced until the fish are confined in a small area, after which 

 they are driven into the nets by the fishermen, who wade or row about inside of the circle, keeping 

 up a continual splashing with the oars. When seines are used, several are often tied together, so 

 as to give a greater length; and in fishing for mullet a second line of them is often drawn behind 

 the first, to catch the fish that jump over the inner net in their efforts to escape. The catch in this 



