113 
The figures presented in the table indicate that less than two percent 
of the total shoreline is in public ownership for recreation, while only 
about 5.5 percent of the recreational shoreline is in public hands. On 
the entire Atlantic coast, only 336 miles of shoreline are publicly 
owned for recreation, a mere 3 percent of the total recreational shore- 
line. Yet, this coast contains the population concentration of the 
sprawling Northeast megalopolis and Florida. It is here, near the 
metropolitan areas, that the demands are the greatest, yet the avail- 
able absolute supply is small. Nationally, the coastal areas contain 
about 15 percent of the total land area, ‘‘but within this area is con- 
centrated 33 percent of the Nation’s population, with about four- 
fifths of it living in primarily urban areas which form about 10 percent 
of the total estuarine zone. The estuarine zone then is nearly twice as 
densely populated as the rest of the country.” Understandably, the 
disappearance of natural beaches and other shoreline recreational 
resources is most evident near these most populous areas. “From 
Massachusetts to North Carolina, in Florida, in California near Los 
Angeles and San Francisco, and along the gulf coast, a sprawling con- 
fusion of buildings crowd the shore.’ * When the added effects of 
pollution (most severe in metropolitan areas) and erosion on existing 
supply are taken into account, the situation becomes even more 
critical. In the densely settled north Atlantic and middle Atlantic 
regions, there are 5,912 miles of recreational shoreline, of which 5,654 
miles are under private or restricted public control; hence, 97 percent 
of the shore is inaccessible to the general public! Yet, the pressures on 
shoreline facilities near metropolitan areas are so great that frequently 
the waters, even in polluted harbors, are used for recreational purposes 
by those who cannot afford to go elsewhere, regardless of whetherthe 
waters are safe for body contact or not. This points to still another 
problem, the inability of low income, less mobile groups to find suitable 
coastal recreational facilities anywhere but in the immediate vicinity 
of urban centers, where the pollution problems are most severe, and 
where fewer beaches are available and oftentimes inaccessible due to 
eross overcrowding. 
The critical magnitude of the supply situation with regard to 
shoreline resources can best be demonstrated by considering what 
has been happening in the State of Maime in recent years. Maine’s 
varied and beautiful shoreline is its greatest asset. The coastal zone 
includes 10 percent of the total geographical area, 36 percent of the 
population, and 127 local governmental units. Forty percent of the 
wages in Maine are generated in this zone, while 60 percent of all 
recreational property and seasonal residences are located there. Almost 
the entire coast is steep, rocky bluff with occasional small beaches of 
gravel or mud. In many areas, deep water occurs close up to the shore. 
The coast is very irregular with numerous coves, inlets, small bays, 
and similar areas serving as harbors or sheltered areas. The shore 
area is only slightly developed with only 34 miles (or 1.4 percent of 
the coastline) in public ownership for recreation; the primary uses 
over the remaining 2,578 miles are private with some commercial 
resort activity. The shoreline is least suitable for swimming and 
water sports since there are only 23 miles of beach along the entire 
coast. The most suitable activities are camping, hiking, boating, 
18 Tbid., reference 1; p. 28. 
14 Thid., reference 7. 
