South Carolina and by the Bay Packing Company at Oriental, North 

 Carol Ina o 



Dare County has become the headquarters of a large commercial 

 fishing operation for swordfish. The sudden growth of this 

 operation may prove to be very Influential In the expansion of 

 the fishing Industry, This activity is centered in Wanchese and 

 Orientals These fish are caught in the Gulf Stream near the 

 North Carolina coast. This activity began in 1963 with a catch 

 of 1,228 pounds of swordfish using the longline method. This 

 method requires the use of a one-quarter inch nylon rope up to 

 90,000 feet long with approximately 1,500 hooks attached. The 

 line is set at approximately 40 to 200 feet deep and left over- 

 night. It is then reeled in during the next day. The hooked 

 fish are brought along side the boat for gaffing. 



Problems and Opportunities in the Albemarle Area Fisheries 



In 1964, approximately 40 vessels fished off the coast of 

 North Carolina, eight of which were North Carolina boats. The 

 total catch landed at Wanchese by these eight boats was 400,000 

 pounds valued at some $160,000o The remainder of the boats were 

 from Canada, Maine, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, The boats 

 from Canada were unable to land their catch in the United States, 

 but all the other boats could have landed at Wanchese. Many did 

 not choose to do so because the channel depths through Oregon 

 Inlet are unstable and in many cases too shallowo These fish are 

 weighed at Wanchese and Oriental, loaded on trucks, iced and 

 shipped to northern markets for processing. Some are sold in 

 Virginia and redistributed from there. 



Swordfish flesh is unsurpassed in texture and quality; it 

 commands the highest of prices. Distribution is almost solely 

 through more expensive restaurants in large cities. When avail- 

 able in retail stores, the price closely parallels that of choice 

 beef steaks. Because of this excellent price available to the 

 fisherman, swordfish could become one of the most important fish 

 in North Carolina, However, there is one problem which makes it 



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