NOVEMBER \i, 

 19 2 6. COROLLA 



3:30 A.M. 



It's dark outside the 

 Corolla. Island Club when the 

 men begin to stir. Temperatures 

 h/m^juM: above freezing. Low 

 gray clouds alternately spit rain 

 Mid sleet while a bitter wind 

 Hews across the Sound. Ice rims 

 both the wtiidowpanes mad 

 waterline. 



It's a good day -for hunting. 



After pulling on. lasers of 

 heavy woolens, the men coiled 

 shotgum and heft coffee from 

 the gunroom, before boarding 

 small boats laden with decoys, 

 dogs and guides. The guides 

 maneuver the skiffs to the club's 

 private hunting bitiids, then 

 arrange hundreds of decoys til 

 the open water. The sportsmen 

 take cover til the bimds hidden 

 by reeds and grots. 



When the ducks finally 

 appear, their sheer numbers 

 darken the sky. It knot 

 uncommon for hunters to shoot 

 scores of birds til a single outing. 



By the time the men 

 return to the bdge, it is nearly 

 dark again. E.C. Knight, owner 

 of the club, meldculoudy 

 records the kill til hit ledger 

 while his cmnpanions thaw 

 their stiff limbs by the cozy fire 

 til the Library. 



CAROTANH... CURRITUCK 



A, 



lgonquian Indians called this area 

 "Carotank" meaning "land of the wild goose." 

 Today, it is known as Currituck. 



The area remains synonymous with 

 waterfowling in more than name alone. 

 Situated on the Atlantic Flyway, Currituck 

 Sound is an ideal stopover for migrating ducks, 

 geese and swans. 



Currituck Heritage Park, located on 

 E.C. Knight's former hunt club property, 

 encapsulates the fabled waterfowling 

 tradition and rich natural resources of 

 Currituck Banks. The park — which includes 

 the historic Whalehead Club, Currituck 

 Beach Lighthouse and the new Outer Banks 

 Center for Wildlife Education — offers 



6 Coastwatch I High Season 2006 I 



