ready. We took some beating up there 

 in the widest part, but it didn't hit us 

 straight on. It ricocheted around us. 

 About the only thing you could do was 

 stand there and hope." 



Like most other professional fisher- 

 men, Craddock has lost small fortunes 

 in equipment to "the elements." 

 Hurricane Hazel shanghaied all of his 

 pound nets and "cleaned me out," 

 Craddock remembers. 



Twice, when hurricanes flooded his 

 village, water climbed the steps of his 

 house to its porch boards. Both times, 

 he moved his house to higher ground. 



Inching along 



Craddock's son, Wildon, who has of- 

 ten helped with his father's fishing 

 business, describes what foul weather 

 means to someone whose livelihood de- 

 pends on the elements. 



"Many days, Dad and I would go 

 out, and we'd just have to inch our way 

 along, knowin' that it wasn't fittin' to 

 be out, but hopin' we could get maybe 

 one hour's work between sunrise and 

 sunset, because the fish are going to rot 

 if you don't get to 'em. There's a 

 dedication to get back to those nets." 



For families like the Craddocks, up 

 and down the coast, this battle with 

 nature is a way of life. And, because 

 the economic life of the region depends 

 so heavily on fishing, tourism and 

 recreation for sustenance, foul weather 

 touches the quick of the coastal 

 economy. 



An early spring or late fall lengthens 

 the tourist season and enriches the 

 economy. But late springs, or cold 

 weather too early in the fall, strap 

 almost everyone who has a business in- 

 terest in the coast. The losses for 

 realtors, charter-boat operators, fisher- 

 men and restaurant owners translate 

 into losses for the merchant and 

 laborer as well. 



With their lives so entwined with the 

 elements, coastal residents like Ronald 

 Craddock betray an almost inex- 

 pressable awe when the conversation 

 turns to weather. What, they wonder 

 aloud, makes weather work the way it 

 does? Says Craddock: "Sometimes you 

 think there's something behind it. 

 When you see those dark clouds, you 

 wonder. . ." 



Finding the forecast 



If a summary weather forecast is all 

 you need to plan your day at the coast, 

 reports form local radio and TV sta- 

 tions may suffice. If you'd like more 

 detailed information or personal ser- 

 vice, here are the numbers to note: 



762-3240 



— The marine forecast telephone line 

 of the National Weather Service's of- 

 fice in Wilmington. A recorded 

 message describes weather systems, 

 relates meteorological information, and 

 gives a five-day "recreational outlook" 

 covering the coastal area between Cape 

 Hatteras and Little River Inlet, in- 

 cluding the Gulf Stream and waters 

 100 miles off shore. You can get per- 

 sonal assistance weekdays (except holi- 

 days) between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. if you 



stay on the line after the recording has 

 played. Your call will "ring through" 

 to office personnel. 



995-5610 



— The weather-line to the National 

 Weather Service's office at Cape Hat- 

 teras. A recorded message gives current 

 meteorological information and a five- 

 day forecast for the Outer Banks and 

 coastal area between Kitty Hawk and 

 Cape Lookout. The office has person- 

 nel on duty to answer ring-throughs for 

 assistance each weekday (except holi- 

 days) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. 



162.55,162.40, 162.475 MHz 



— The radio bands for weather infor- 

 mation from the National Oceanic and 

 Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 



Weather forecasts and meteorological 

 information are revised every six 

 hours', storm bulletins and weather ad- 

 visories are renewed every two hours. 

 To pick up the weather bands requires 

 a special receiver. But small, inexpen- 

 sive radios that can home in on the 

 signals are commonly available in radio 

 shops along the coast. 



Here is a list of broadcast areas and 

 their corresponding weather bands: 



Asheville 



162.40 



Myrtle Beach 



162.40 



Bristol 



162.55 



New Bern 



162.40 



Cape Hatteras 



162.55 



Norfolk 



162.55 



Charlotte 



162.475 



Richmond 



162.475 



Durham 



162.55 



Tarboro 



162.475 



Fayetteville 



162.475 



Wilmington 



162.55 



Florence 



162.55 



Winston-Salem 



162.40 



