Forestry Problems on N. C. Banks 
129 
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banks off the North Carolina coast between Cape Hatteras and the 
wooded area about six miles west of Beaufort Inlet. This investi- 
gation was undertaken by the Forest Service at the request of the 
State Geologist of North Carolina and was intended only to deter- 
mine, in a general way, the damage being done by drifting sands 
on the area examined. If considered necessary, methods of pro- 
tection against further damage were to be recommended. 
The portion of the banks covered by this report is typical of the 
entire strip and within this area are the only places where active 
protective measures seem to be required at the present time. A 
detailed plan for the treatment of these lands is included in this 
report. 
Damage by Shifting Sands 
There is abundant evidence, throughout the area examined, of 
marked changes within a comparatively recent time. Within the 
recollection of many of the residents, practically the entire banks 
were forest covered. At present, however, the forests occur only 
at two points. Immediately west of Cape Hatteras are approxi- 
mately 2,500 acres covered principally with loblolly pine. Recent 
estimates of the amount of pine in this stand approximate 20,000,- 
000 feet board measure. Although this figure seems excessive, 
there is undoubtedly a considerable amount of valuable timber in 
forest. The trees are of medium size and the lumber of rela- 
tively low value, but the accessibility of the stand and the great 
market for even the poorer grades will make the exploitation of 
this timber profitable. These lands are held by private owners 
and the stumpage is controlled by a company which holds an 
option at $.50 per thousand feet, B, M. This option expires Jan- 
uary 1, 1910. 
Poor business management has eaused a suspension of logging 
operations, but it is practically certain that lumbering will be 
resumed in the near future and that a considerable portion of the 
forest will be removed before the expiration of the option, since it 
could be renewed only at a much higher rate. 
Near the western end of Shackleford Banks are a few hundred 
acres of forest composed almost entirely of red juniper. This is 
being exploited in a small way for posts. 
