CHAPTEE XII. 



Sea Fishes. 



The shape of our coast line, and the char- 

 acter and extent of the numerous sounds and 

 bays furnishing outlets for such big rivers as 

 the Eoanoke, Tar, ISTeuse and Cape Fear, make 

 it probably the best State in the Union for fish 

 to feed and frolic in. 



Vast schools of all kinds of big fish coming 

 from the South are invited through the various 

 inlets to the sporting grounds supplied by Albe- 

 marle, Pamlico and other sounds, and other 

 schools coming from the North, driven by stress 

 of weather, possibly, to take shelter under Hat- 

 teras, also find their way into these sounds, and 

 thence make way up the many rivers and creeks 

 to faA'orite spawning grounds. 



In consequence, our coast fishing industry is 

 an exceedingly important one; much capital is 

 invested and thousands of men and women em- 

 ployed in catching and handling the fish, liter- 

 ally millions being caught every year, and often 



