Several studies have been made to locate and evaluate the extent 

 of shell deposits that would be suitable for establishing bedso 

 A few adequate deposits were found but the cost of dredging these 

 shells proved to be prohibitiveo At the present time the state 

 is exploring the possibility of using shell materials supplied by 

 various commercial sourcese 



It has been determined that the State of North Carolina has 

 several hundred thousand acres of suitable oyster growing bottoms. 

 However, nearly all of these areas will require plantings of 500 

 to 1,000 bushels of shells per acre to approach a satisfactory 

 rate of oyster production^ 



Between 1947 and 1954, an average of 93,382 bushels of shells 

 and 7,562 bushels of oysters were planted per year^ The plantings 

 proved their worth and the program received increased emphasis. 

 During the next decade (1954 - 1964) shell planting averaged 

 101,721 bushels and oyster plantings averaged 173,644 bushels per 

 year. In comparison, the State of Maryland has planted some six 

 million bushels of shells annually since 1961s Plantings of the 

 past decade represent a significant increase but, even so, are far 

 short of what they could be. It is hoped that the availability of 

 the shells from commercial sources will enable extensive expansion 

 of the planting operation at a resonable price. Within the 

 Albemarle region, Hyde and Dare Counties will probably receive the 

 greatest benefit from these shells. 



Hyde County also has a considerable amount of crabs landed 

 in Engelhard but these amount to only approximately one-eighth as 

 many crabs as are harvested In Dare County,, 



Dare County is truly the commercial fishing county of the 

 Albemarle region. It contains the greatest number of boats and 

 accounts for 58 percent of the region's total fish landings. Dare 

 County's landings consisted of 75 percent shellfish and 25 percent 

 food fish in 1964. Its food fish catch was distributed among 14 



13 



