Norrti Carolina S^« Lrferary 



Raleigh 

 One of the most important aspects of this hearing was the 

 realization that the coast of Northeastern North Carolina offered 

 an unusual variety and abundance of fish and that the fishermen 

 of this state are restricted in their access to this important 

 natural resource. Today, many ocean-going vessels from northern 

 parts of the nation, Canada and even Russia are fishing off the 

 coast taking fish which should logically be landed and processed 

 in North Carolina. Upon the completion of the 1963 project, the 

 fishermen of the region constructed a fleet of approximately 14 

 boats, specifically designed to use Oregon Inlet, at a capital 

 investment approaching three-quarters of a million dollars. It 

 is found today that even these vessels find it risky to utilize 

 the inlet. The charter or party boat fishing fleet was also 

 Increased by some 60 vessels, all based at the Oregon Inlet 

 Fishing Center, Manteo, and Wanchese and valued at approximately 

 one million dollars. 



Thus, ocean fishing is important to the economy of Dare County, 

 but there is no safe and dependable means to get to the fishing 

 grounds. The County has almost no farming activity, and sound 

 fishing has declined in recent years. The activities of Manteo 

 and Wanchese have increased greatly since the completion of the 

 original Oregon Inlet project, and their possible significance has 

 been realized. When Oregon Inlet Channel is enlarged and stabilized, 

 it is possible that Dare County will rival Carteret County as the 

 center of commercial fishing in the State. 



During the summer of 1965, an extensive area of scallop beds, 

 approximately 20 by 50 miles in size, was discovered. In 1965, 

 North Carolina had only three vessels capable of dredging for 

 scallops, but these boats found that they must put into port in 

 Virginia because their draft was too deep for Oregon Inlet. It 

 has been estimated that if scallopers could bring their catch to 

 North Carolina that the fleet could be expanded considerably. 



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