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JOSfPHRUZICKA
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GBeE««BO.RS,.N.C.
(WASHlNGtCTN:. DC,
00006766369
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Lib. lOM-Je '36
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MAR;
SIXTH BIENNIAL REPORT
OF
The Department of Conservation
and Development
OF THE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
BIENNIUM ENDING JUNE 30, 1936
N'
SIXTH BIENNIAL REPORT
OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION
AND DEVELOPMENT
OF THE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
FOR THE BIENNIUM ENDING JUNE 30, 1936
BOARD OF CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Governor J. C. B. Ehringhaus, Chairman Raleigh
J. Q. GiLKEY, Vice Chairman Marion
Santford Martin Winston-Salem
E. S. Askew Merry Hill
Jos. J. Stone Greensboro
W. C. EwiNG Fayetteville
D. L. Ward New Bern
J. L. HORNE, Jr Rocky Mount
J. W. Harrelson Raleigh
J. P. Rawley High Point
Harry R. Lindsey Leaksville
F. PiERCY Carter Asheville
Jas. L. McNair Laurinburg
R. Bruce Etheridge, Director Raleigh
LEHER OF TRANSMIHAL
Raleigh, N. C.
October 15, 1936.
To His Excellency, Hon. J. C. B, Ehringhaus,
Governor of North Carolina.
Sir:
In accordance with Section 11, Chapter 122, Public Laws of 1925, and by
direction of the Board of Conservation and Development, I have the pleasure
of submitting herewith the Sixth Report of the Department of Conservation
and Development for the biennium ending June 30, 1936.
There are shown in this report a review of the activities of the Depart-ment
during the last two-year period and a financial statement for the
biennium.
Respectfully submitted.
R. Bruce Etheridge,
Director.
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DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL AND
PRINCIPAL OFFICERS
ADMINISTRATIVE
R. Bruce Etheridge, Director
Paul Kelly, Assista7it Director
R. N. Sanford, Auditor
Mrs. Etoyal P. Hobbie, Fiscal Clerk
Gladys Pritchett, Purchasing Agent
Frances Pope, Senior Stenographer
DIVISION OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES
Capt. John A. Nelson, Commissioner
N. R. Webb, Fiscal Clerk
Mary E. Willis, Stenographer
A. B. Freeman, Assistant Sanitary Engineer
Assistant Commissioner
Thomas Basnight, Maneto
DIVISION OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Paul Kelly, Chief
DIVISION OF FORESTRY
J. S. Holmes, State Forester
W. C. McCormick, Assistant State Forester
Grace White, 'Accoiaumg' uiern-Stenographer
Mabel Duke, Senior Stenographer
Susan Marshall, Stenographer
District Foresters:
John D. Findlay, Rocky Mount Paul W. Tillman, Rocking, am
J. R. Spratt, Lenoir J. M. Stingley, New Bern
J. B. Lattay, Fayetteville, N. C.
DIVISION OF GAME AND INLAND FISHERIES
J. D. Chalk, Commissioner
E. B. KUGLER, Chief License Clerk
Mrs. Alice W. Austell, Senior Stenographer
Frances Pappendick, Stenographer
Assistant State Wardens:
J. A. Bradshaw, Asheville Larry Warrington, New Bern
Fred D. Williams, Fayetteville W. C. Lisk, Richfield
Rupert E. West, Moyock R. Grady Farthing, Boone
Chas. W. Burn ham. Supervising Fish Culturist, Fayetteville
Fish Hatchery Superintendents:
Morrison Hatchery, Leo F. Reiger, Balsam
Frank Stedman Hatchery, W. T. Parker, Fayetteville
"Pete" Murphy Hatchery, Frank S. Dysart, Marion
Boone Hatchery, C. E. Smathers, Boone
Roaring Gap Hatchery, Wm. R. Skaggs, Roaring Gap
DIVISION OF MINERAL RESOURCES
H. J. Bryson, State Geologist
Marjorie Smith, Stenographer
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES AND ENGINEERING
T, S. Johnson, Chief Engineer
W. H. Riley, Assistant Engineer
Carroll L. Mann, Jr., Assistant Engineer
F. E. Day, Assistant Engineer, Asheville
Dorothy Lindsey, Stenographer
C
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\
REPORT OF DIRECTOR
The two years covered by this report constitute a period of great im-portance
to the State's conservation program. Whereas, the preceding
biennium was marked by drastic retrenchments in the Department's activi-ties,
improved economic conditions, more adequate fiscal provisions, and
extensive cooperation from Federal emergency agencies have altered the
situation.
Plans carried out during the biennium did not by any means all originate
with this administration; but they have followed, to a considerable extent,
carefully conceived policies of our predecessors who labored faithfully to
guide public thought and activities toward a realization of the purposes for
which the Department was created. Their fundamental work had charted
the course toward progress.
As a result of the foregoing reasons, much of a constructive nature has
been accomplished during the last biennium; and even more important, the
attitude of the public toward the natural resources of the State is changing
materially. There is a growing general impression that all our renewable
resources should be so handled as to assure the maximum future returns and
that those of exhaustible nature should be utilized to the best possible ad-vantage.
These gains must be preserved and new objectives sought in
making the State a more prosperous and pleasant place in which to live.
BOARD OF CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
To a considerable extent, credit for progress in the program of the De-partment
is due to the wise direction and untiring efforts of the Board of
Conservation and Development. Members of the group, headed by Gov.
J. C. B. Ehringhaus, as Chairman ex-officio, have given wise direction to
its policies and have devoted liberally of their time to the solution of its
problems. The Director has at all times had the benefit of their helpful
counsel and active assistance.
Although serving without compensation. Board members have exhibited
at all times a keen interest in the affairs of the Department and the gen-eral
welfare of the State. They have not only established policies but have
taken the time from their own activities to assist in the execution of their
proposals. Special mention should be made of the deep interest of Governor
Ehringhaus in the natural resources of North Carolina and his concern that
they be utilized for the best interests of the public. Only with his full
cooperation has the Department been able to carry out many important
projects.
LEGISLATION
One of the most serious handicaps to the conservation program at the
beginning of the biennium was the severe curtailment in appropriations.
This support of the Department was cut probably more drastically than for
any State agency in 1933 when an annual appropriation of only $29,645,
'^ compared with $80,800 for the previous year, was provided.
IS
8
The General Assembly of 1935, however, met the challenging needs of the
program by appropriating $69,665.95 for fiscal year, 1935-36. As a result,
the Department has been able to function more effectively and meet more
of the demands for service.
From the standpoint of constructive conservation legislation, the 1935
General Assembly probably made the greatest contribution since the De-partment
was created. Some of the more important conservation measures
passed by that body and their designation in Public Laws of 1935 include:
Chapter 486—Reenactment and revision of the State Game Law, now gen-erally
acknowledged as one of the outstanding statutes of its kind in the
country.
Chapter 35—Reinvestment of authority to regulate fisheries of the State
in Board of Conservation and Development.
Chapter 197—Authorizing a program to mark points of outstanding his-torical
interest in North Carolina in cooperation with the State Highway
and Public Works Commission and the State Historical Commission.
Chapter 226—Empowering Department of Conservation and Development
to accept land from the Resettlement Administration for State Parks, For-ests,
Game Refuges and Public Shooting grounds for administration.
Chapter 173—An act directing the withholding of State-owned vacant
lands from sale where found suitable for State Parks, Forests, etc.
Chapter 332—Empowering State to turn over to Federal government
lands in vicinity of Cape Hatteras for a National Park should such a reser-vation
be established.
Chapter 430—Authorizing State Park system, enabling the Department
of Conservation and Development to acquire suitable areas for this purpose
"by lease, purchase or otherwise."
Chapter 178—An act looking toward State-wide forest fire protection with
cooperation between the State and Counties where needed.
HISTORICAL MARKERS
Various organizations and Individuals for a number of years have urged
the marking of places of significance in the history of North Carolina in
a manner similar to the program carried on in Virginia and other states.
The Board of Conservaton and Development in July, 1934, adopted this
project as one of its major objectives for the biennium and enlisted the
cooperation of the State Historical Commission and the State Highway and
Public Works Commission in the undertaking. One of the first steps was
the appointment of a committee of outstanding historians representing the
so-called "Big Five" among the men's colleges of the State—the University
of North Carolina, Duke University, State College, Wake Forest College,
and Davidson College, and the Secretary of the State Historical Commission.
A bill authorizing the program was introduced in the General Assembly
of 1935. With a committee amendment declaring the erection of historical
markers a valid expenditure, to a limit of $5,000 annually, of highway main-tenance
funds, the bill was passed. The Highway and Public Works Com-mission
subsequently set aside $5,000 annually for the biennium of 1935-37
for the marker program.
In a division of the marker work, the committee of historians, headed by
9
the Secretary of the State Historical Commission, was placed in charge of
the selection of spots to be marked and the preparation of the inscriptions;
the Department of Conservation and Development undertook to look after
the casting of the plates, definitely locating the markers, and other busi-ness
details; and the Highway and Public Works Commission agreed to
erect the markers. Each of the cooperating agencies has carried out its
duties and the arrangement has worked well.
The committee selected a design 42 inches wide by 36 inches deep, fin-ished
at the top in a scroll efl'ect with a facsimile of the State seal imbedded
approximately midway of the top center. Since aluminum is a North Caro-lina
product, it was decided to use this metal in casting the plates. Under
the contract, let on competitive bid, the first 50 markers cost $39 each
delivered in Raleigh and an option was taken on an additional hundred at
$38 each.
Up to the end of the current biennium, 46 of the markers had been com-pleted
and most of these erected. Additional legends are being furnished
and it is probable that 150 or more may be in place by the end of the two-year
period. Following are the key numbers, titles and locations of the
first group completed:
A-1 St. Paul's Church Chowan County
A-2 Indian Woods Bertie County
A-3 George Durant Perquimans County
A-4 Joseph Hewes Chowan County
A-5 James Iredell Chowan County
B-1 First English Colonies Dare County
C-1 Stanly Home Craven County
C-2 Tryon's Palace Craven County
C-3 First Printing Press Craven County
C-4 Ocracoke Inlet Carteret County
C-5 Abner Nash Craven County
C-7 Richard Dobbs Speight Craven County
C-8 Spanish Attack Carteret County
D-1 Cornelius Harnett New Hanover County
D-2 Old Courthouse New Hanover County
D-3 Orton Brunswick County
D-4 Stamp Act Brunswick County
D-5 St. James Church New Hanover County
D-6 Moore's Creek Bridge Pender County
D-7 Samuel Ashe Pender County
E-1 Green Hill Place Franklin County
E-2 Nathaniel Macon Warren County
E-3 Independence Halifax County
E-4 William R. Davie Halifax County
E-5 Annie C. Lee Warren County
G-1 John Penn Granville County
G-2 Alamance Battleground Alamance County
H-1 Battle of Bentonville Johnson County
H-2 Joel Lane House Wake County
H-3 Isaac Hunter's Tavern Wake County
10
H-4 State Capitol Wake County
H-5 Christ Church Rectory Wake County
H-7 Dix Hill Wake County
I-l Old Bluff Church Cumberland County
1-2 U. S. Arsenal Cumberland County
1-3 John Charles McNeill Scotland County
1-4 James C. Dobbin Cumberland County
J-3 Guilford Courthouse Guilford County
J-4 John Motley Morehead Guilford County
J-5 Calvin H. Wiley Guilford County
J-1 "O. Henry" Guilford County
0-1 Kings Mountain Battleground Cleveland County
0-2 Sidney Lanier Polk County
P-1 Calvary Church, Episcopal Henderson County
P-2 Zebulon B. Vance Buncombe County
P-3 Riverside Cemetery Buncombe County
Full acknowledgement should be made of the unselfish service of the
committee of historians. These men have served purely through interest in
the program without compensation. While the major burden of research,
involving many perplexing details, has been borne by the State Historical
Commission, the committee has reviewed and approved the legends for each
individual marker. The committee has been assisted by an advisory group
representing the various patiiotic groups in the State and by many public-spirited
citizens who have taken an active interest in the program.
STATE PARKS
While this subject will be covered in more detail in the report of the
Division of Forestry, some mention of the progress should be made in the
Director's report.
The State finds a culmination during the past biennium of plans of many
years' standing to provide the people with a system of recreational areas
and to preserve places of outstanding scenic value.
Three new State Parks, all coming as gifts, have been acquired during
the biennium. These new areas are Hanging Rock in Stokes County, Mor-row
Mountain in Stanly County, and Cape Hatteras (Phipps Memorial Park)
in Dare County. There were previously three State Parks—Mount Mitchell
in Yancey County, Rendezvous Mountain in Wilkes County, and Fort Macon
in Carteret County.
Some development has been carried out on each of these areas, largely as
the result of means provided by various emergency Federal organizations.
A description of the improvements and more detailed information on these
areas will be found elsewhere in this report.
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES
Conservation officials of North Carolina have over a period of years
sought a remedy for depressed commercial fishery market conditions. Dur-ing
the biennium of 1930-32, a meeting of dealers was called and an organi-
11
zation formed. This group worked faithfully to help solve the problems of
the industry. The fishermen were also advised to organize in order to seek
a cooperative solution of their problems.
Faced by diminishing returns for their products while the price of other
commodities was rising, the economic condition of the fishermen grew pro-gressively
worse early in the current biennium. Eager to assist in any
effort which offered opportunity to boost the income of the commercial
fishermen, the Department encouraged the establishment of an NRA code
for the industry, but this plan did not get a start before the act establish-ing
the NRA was declared unconstitutional.
The Department next proposed setting up definite grades and standards
for seafoods as had been done for various agricultural products. It was
hoped by this plan to establish more uniform products and increase the
consumption of seafoods and the return to the fishermen. It was found
impossible, after a thorough investigation of the requirements, to proceed
with this project because of the lack of funds.
Following the storms in the fall of 1933 and the spring of 1934, the needs
of the fishermen in the form of new equipment to replace losses were pre-sented
to the relief agencies and as a result a large number of nets was
distributed.
Next, full support was given to a series of bills introduced in Congress
for the relief of the fishermen. On February 27, 1934, the Director ap-peared
before the House of Representatives Committee on Merchant Ma-rine,
Radio, and Fisheries to urge the extension of relief measures applied
to agriculture and the manufacturing industries to the fisheries, along with
other bills intended to assist the fishermen. At the hearing he stressed the
need of "marketing associations."
With the full cooperation of Gov. J. C. B. Ehringhaus, who has con-tinuously
manifested an interest in the welfare of the commercial fishermen ,
and the industry, the Department proposed the establishment of an organi- ,^
zation to take advantage of facilities of the Division of Self-Help Coopera-tives
of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration.
At the request of Gov. Ehringhaus and the Director, a study to determine
the need and prospects for such an organization in North Carolina was
authorized by Mrs. Thomas O'Berry, Emergency Relief Administrator. As
a result of this survey, the N. C. Fisheries, Inc., a cooperative for the com-mercial
fishermen, was organized.
Facilities for marketing and storing fish provided for the cooperative, in-clude
a main plant at Morehead City with a daily freezing capacity of more
than 10,000 pounds of fish and storage space for 800,000 pounds. Bi'anch
plants were established at Southport, Manteo, and Belhaven. Operation of
the plants at Morehead City, Southport, and Belhaven began October 7,
1935; and the Manteo plant opened in November. Total cost of all the
plants, according to the ERA, was approximately $132,605.
While the Department has no hand in the management of the organiza-tion,
it is hoped that the entire industry may profit from new forms in
which seafoods are offered to the consumer, the large storage capacity
which makes it possible to absorb a considerable part of seasonal surpluses,
and expanded markets for fishery products.
12
PARK-TO-PARK HIGHWAY
This Department cooperated with the State Highway and Public Works
Commission and other agencies in presenting North Carolina's claims for
this great scenic drive which will connect the Great Smoky Mountains Na-tional
Park with the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.
The Vice-chairman of the Board of Conservation and Development, J. Q.
Gilkey, of Marion, served as chairman of the special committee appointed
by Gov. Ehringhaus, to represent the State's interests in the parkway. That
this committee and other agencies were successful in their endeavors is
generally known.
This scenic road will be one of the outstanding drives in America, with
the climax being reached in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in
North Carolina and Tennessee. The drive will extend along the crest of the
Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia and North Carolina, running for some
250 miles through this State where its elevation will be nowhere less than
2,000 feet, with a maximum height of some 6,000 feet.
SURVEY OF RESOURCES AND INDUSTRIES
At the request of Gov. J. C. B. Ehringhaus, the Department has under-taken
to inventory the resources and industries of North Carolina with the
results of the study to be issued in printed form by the end of the current
calendar year. The Department hopes this report will be the first step
toward a continuous study of this nature, brought up to date at regular
intervals.
The project is now being organized, and it is expected that the informa-tion
gathered for the report will serve as a guide for future develop-ment
and will promote a fuller utilization of the industrial, agricultural,
and natural resources of the State.
Active direction of the study has been placed under the direction of T. S.
Johnson, of this Department, who is also serving as consultant to the State
Planning Board. Mr. Johnson will be assisted by the Division of Com-merce
and Industry.
SAND FIXATION PROGRAM
Repeated studies of the coastal section of North Carolina have brought
opinions from various engineers that steady erosion caused by the wind
and tides threatens the future existence of that narrow strip of land known
as "the Banks" which protect the mainland of the State against the forces
of the elements.
The Department, in an effort to save this protecting reef, sponsored a
WPA project of "sand fixation" on "the Banks." Largely as a result of the
interest taken in the proposal by Rep. Lindsey Warren, of the First Con-gressional
District, a comprehensive progi'am of this nature was approved
by the Works Progress Administration. Five camps of transient workers,
extending along approximately 100 miles of the coast, were established by
the end of this report period. These camps had a total of 591 men, including
13
the administrative force. The location of the units and the number of men
at each are as follows: Manteo, 187; Duck, 104; Hatteras, 112; Rodanthe,
127; and Ocracoke, 61.
The National Park Service is scheduled to assume co-sponsorship of the
project, with the Department of Conservation and Development, on July 1,
1936. This cooperative sponsorship is considered a fortunate move for the
Department because of the wider facilities of the Federal agency for plan-ning
and supervision.
First of the sand fixation measures is the construction of brush and wood
fences to arrest the movement of sands drifting before the winds. The
second phase of the program contemplates extensive grass plantings to form
a protecting mat over the shifting sands. The reestablishment of forest
growth on a considerable part of this area is contemplated as the final
step in the undertaking.
An account of ECW sand fixation operations will be found in the Division
of Forestry report.
OYSTER PLANTING
Planting of oysters, started as a job-creating relief measure under the
old Civil Works Administration in the previous biennium, was continued
during the current two-year period by the Emergency Relief Administration
and the Works Progress Administration under the sponsorship of the
Department of Conservation and Development.
A total of 774,038 bushels of oysters and shells had been planted at the
close of last biennium and 1,358,468 bushels were added during 1934-36.
The shells and oysters were placed on sound bottoms in Brunswick, New
Hanover, Pender, Onslow, Carteret, Pamlico, Hyde and Dare Counties at
an average cost of 9 cents per bushel.
Many oyster bottoms of North Carolina have been effectively rehabilitated
by this new stock. While the project has provided work for hundreds of
men, it also constitutes a sound investment for the future. The planted
oysters are expected to multiply in volume and provide future crops of
shellfish, and thereby to furnish more work and income for the fishermen.
PROPOSED EASTERN NATIONAL PARK
The Department has continued to urge the establishment of a new
National Park along the picturesque "Banks" of North Carolina.
Elaborate briefs supporting the project have been filed with the National
Park Service; and definite improvement and development programs looking
toward this goal have been submitted to the various work relief agencies.
Establishment of Cape Hatteras State Park and the extensive sand fixa-tion
programs are steps toward the major development which, it is
hoped, will eventually extend 75 or more miles along "the Banks" and pos-sibly
incorporate other nearby reservations, including the Wright Memorial
on Kill Devil Hill and Fort Raleigh on Roanoke Island.
14
RECOMMENDATIONS
Two general recommendations, both matters of prime importance to the
State, are submitted for consideration.
First, the opportune time has arrived for the State of North Carolina to
launch a program to attract tourists and promote further utilization of her
natural resources in manufacturing processes.
With economic conditions rapidly improving, the number of persons
seeking recreation, new scenic areas, and historical interest is increasing.
Those familiar with the attractions of our State need not be convinced that
the vacationist finds virtually all of his demands met in North Carolina.
The tourist industry is becoming more highly competitive and the States
that would profit more fully from their natural endowments must seek
aggressively to bring new visitors within their borders.
North Carolina is capitalizing only to a small extent on her natural
resources compared with some of her sister States that have made known
their attractions through the various mediums of advertising. The expendi-ture
of a modest fund for this purpose will be a sound investment which
should return dividends a hundredfold or more.
Improving economic conditions signify a greater industrial activity.
North Carolina, although already a leader in her section of the country in
industrial development, offers wide opportunities for expansion of manu-facturing.
Further utilization of the State's natural resources in the
production of finished articles means more jobs, larger payrolls, and
greatly increased wealth for her citizens.
It is recommended that funds be provided for advertising the tourist
attractions and industrial opportunities of the State.
Second, the historical marker program has been accorded the approval
and support of the public. It has quickened the interest of the people of
North Carolina in the history of the State, and there is every indication
that the project will prove a sound investment from the standpoint of
increased State pride and in attracting visitors.
With the fund of $10,000 provided over a period of two years, only a
comparatively small number of outstanding points of historical interest
have been marked, and others equally deserving should be given similar
attention. Provision of at least an amount equal to that made available
during the past biennium is urged for the next fiscal period.
15
APPROPRIATION DIVISIONS
Statement of Receipts and Disbursements
Biennium 1934-1936
II.
Administration :
Board of Conservation and Deiulopment:
Attending Meetings
Director's Office:
Salary, Director
Salaries, Staff
Wages, Janitor-Messenger
Office Supplies
Stationery and Sundries
Postage and Box Rent
Telephone and Telegrams
Express, Freight and Drayage ..
Field Travel
Printing Forms
Printing Publications
Equipment Repairs
Subscriptions and Dues
Fair Exhibits
Office Equipment
Total Expenditures
-
Less Receipts:
Sale of Publications
-
State Appropriation
WaTEB RESOtTRCES:
Salary, Chief Engineer
Salaries, Staff
Salaries, Extra
Office Supplies
Engineering Supplies
Materials
Postage and Box Rent
Telephone and Telegrams
Express, Freight and Drayage
Field Travel-. - -
Printing Forms
Duplicating Service
Motor Vehicle Operation
Repairs, Equipment
Cooperation with U. S. Geological Survey
General Expense
Mechanical Service
Office Equipment
Engineering Equipment
Purchase of Motor Vehicles
Total Expenditures..
Less Receipts:
Private Cooperation
State Appropriation.
1034-35
$ 319.26
000.00
300.00
524.87
219.32
22.25
547.21
200 . 24
60.90
353.86
75.98
401.37
35.66
65.00
152.48
151.42
$10,429 82
20.61
$10,409.21
654.17
126.00
65.72
51.38
29.69
42.62
162.72
4.32
834 . 23
6.45
60.69
382.65
18.30
.031.31
84.08
13.50
105.45
$8,673.28
1,022.41
S 7,650.87
1935-36
322.14
4,800.00
4,1*0.00
699.00
260.25
188.72
504 . 50
151.52
180.21
767 . 55
226 . 25
14.65
55.00
358.15
$12,667.94
34.85
$12,633.09
1,080.00
5,862.00
919.90
75.27
211.83
19.06
77.00
70.10
1.86
1,305.98
19.45
70.36
639.68
17.41
3,109.92
25.83
1,138.37
$14,644.02
1,195.12
$13,448.90
16
Statement of Receipts and Disbursements—Continued
Biennium 1934-1936
1934-35 1935-36
III.
IV,
MiNERAi. Resources:
Salary, State Geologist .
Salaries, Staff
OflSce Supplies
Telephone and Telegrams.
Field Travel
Motor Vehicle Operation.,
Printing Publications
OflSce Equipment
Purchase of Automobiles..
State Appropriation.
Forest Fire Prevention:
Administration:
Salary, Chief of Forest Fire Control.
Salaries, Staff
Office Supplies
Postage
Telephone and Telegrams
Express, Freight and Drayage
Field Travel
Printing Forms
Motor Vehicle Operation
Equipment Repairs
Workmen's Compensation
Special Equipment
Office Equipment
Miscellaneous Equipment
Purchase of Automobiles
Alterations, Office
Cooperative Projects:
Salaries and Wages, Wardens.
Travel Expenses, Wardens—
Fire Control Equipment
Equipment Repairs
Telephone Lines
Lookout Towers
Buildings
Wages, Fire Fighters —
District No. 1:
Salary, District Forester. .
Salaries, Staff
Postage .
Telephone and Telegrams.
Field Travel
Motor Vehicle Operation.
Rents
2,250.00
1,050.00
32.53
10.00
25.34
1,095.13
$ 2,950.00
2,340.00
34.37
86.69
476 . 20
541.44
436.36
76.95
623,20
S 4,463,00
3,000.00
2,616,00
162,39
357,00
136,80
30,34
616.76
425 . 59
759,68
25,82
94,71
302.78
202.23
93,60
1,215.20
106.30
7,565.21
3,600,00
3,570,00
222,44
424,00
71,86
31.89
878.70
500.84
463.64
47.10
51.00
151.00
143,55
2,697.38
$10,145.20
$37,732.28
1,616.06
16,706.99
911.40
683.27
452.81
8,533,05
$12,853.40
$66,820.54
3,070.03
14.585.91
1,994.71
1,539.54
1,123.90
132,14
12,103.61
$66,635.86
$ 1,680.00
927,00
75.00
114.17
263.95
432.75
120.00
$101,370.38
$ 2,640.00
2,370.00
75,00
108.40
637.04
670.87
120.00
$ 3.612.87 $ 6,621.31
17
Statbmbnt of Receipts and Disbursements—Continutd
Biennuim 1934-1936
1934-35 1935-36
IV. Forest Fire Prevention—Continued
District No. S:
Salary, District Forester
Salaries. Staff
Postage
Telephone and Telegrams
Field Travel
Motor Vehicle Operation
Electric Current
Bents
District No. 3:
Salary, District Forester..
Salaries, Staff
Postage
Telephone and Telegrams.
Field Travel
Motor Vehicle Operation.
Rents
Buildings
District No. 4'
Salary, District Forester.
Salaries, Staff
Telephone and Telegrams.
Field Travel
Motor Vehicle Operation.
Rents
District No. 6:
Salary, District Forester..
Salaries, Staff
Postage
Telephone and Telegrams-
Field Travel -
Motor Vehicle Operation.
Electric Current
Rents
District No. 6:
Salary, District Forester..
Salaries, Staff
Postage
Telephone and Telegrams.
Field Travel
Motor Vehicle Operation.
Rents
1,666.66
44.00
91.57
133 . 22
420.70
8.40
120.00
1,500.00
2,610.00
61.00
100.92
449.77
435.31
120.00
$ 2,484.55
$ 1,225.00
2,200.00
89.00
105.51
427 . 20
781.40
265.50
$ 5,277.00
$ 1,800.00
2,460.00
67.00
78 43
450 . 88
724.31
206.11
$ 5,093.61
1,800 00
45.00
103.63
381.70
600.44
60.00
8 5,786.73
$ 2,107.50
2,490.00
65.85
72.15
334.80]
717.181
45. 00
J
$ 2,990.77
$ 1,375.00
2,008.00
48.66
65.00
343.81
788.68
1.50
27.00
$ 5,832.48
$ 1,800.00
2,280.00
43.55
122.65
526.83
821.02
3.06
70.00
$ 4,657.55
1,428.26
34.72
18.54
241.30
446.70
55.00
5,667.11
1,785.00
2,340.00
72.05
95.08
859.48
1,188.32
218.00
$ 2,224.52
Total Expenditures | $97,844.93
$ 6,557.93
$149,966.34
18
Statement op Receipts and Disbursements—Continued
Biennium 1934-1936
1934-35 1935-36
IV. Forest Fire Prevention—Continued
Less Receipts:
Federal Cooperation
County Cooperation
Private Cooperation
Donation from Game Fund. .
State Appropriation.
V. IndtjstriaIi Survey:
Salaries and Wages
Supplies and Materials
Postage, Telephone and Telegrams.
Travel Expense
VI.
State Appropriation.
General Forestry, Parks and Planting:
Salary, State Forester
Salary, Staff
OflBce Supplies
Postage
Telephone and Telegrams
Field Travel- —
Printing Forms
Printing Publications
Office Equipment -
State Forests and Parks:
Salary, Assistant Forester
Salaries, Staff
Labor
Office Supplies
Telephone and Telegrams
Express, Freight and Drayage.
Field Travel.
Printing
Motor Vehicle Operation
Building Repairs
Fire Insurance
Household Equipment
Purchase of Automobile
Forest Planting:
Salaries, Staff
Labor
Office Supplies
Agricultural Supplies
Postage
Telephone and Telegrams
Express, Freight and Drayage.
Field Travel
$46,225.34
30,287.67
5,081.89
13,500.00
$95,094.90
$ 2,750.03
!,400 00
900.00
30.45
45.00
16.06
63.07
9.20
49.73
15.44
$ 3,528.95
872.00
26.00
15.75
12.99
3.10
100.75
6.52
38.89
28.27
$ 1,104.27
$ 715.00
77.00
22.50
482.95
10.00
22.29
4.27
78.61
$55,257.12
37.794.24
8,886.22
17,500.00
$119,437.58
$30,528.76
361.66
9.93
10.00
89.80
$471.39
3,000.00
1,080.00
25.30
120.24
73.92
127.68
32.54
6.50
$ 4,466.18
$ 2,100.00
1,907.50
61.33
34.60
16.79
204.37
11.58
293.69
68.12
62.08
299.72
508.21
$ 5,567.89
900.00
851.08
21.77
3.50
22.66
5.94
19
Statement op Receipts and Disbursements—Continued
Bienniuni 1<?34-1936
1934-35 1935-36
VI. General Forestry, Parks and Planting—Continued
Printing
Motor Vehicle Operation
Repairs
Fire Insurance
Agricultural Equipment
Purchase of Land
Total Expenditures.-
Less Receipts:
Federal Cooperation.
Sale of Seedlings
Sale of Publications.
-
Permits, State Lakes.
Park Concessions
State Appropriation.
Departmental Summary:
Disbursements
:
Administration
Water Resources
Mineral Resources
Forest Fire Prevention..
Industrial Survey
General Forestry
Less Receipts:
Administration
Water Resources
Forest Fire Prevention
General Forestry
Advance from Contingency Fund.
State Appropriation
:
Administration
Water Resources
Mineral Resources
Forest Fire Prevention
Industrial Survey
General Forestry
Advance from Contingency Fund.
14.25
231.23
7.50
36.10
2.77
91.95
9.29
39.19
16.30
,013.50
$ 1,701.70 $ 3,977.95
S 6,334.92 $14,012.02
1,104.85 1,408.29
489.83 2,312.70
6.70 5.00
193.15 126.90
188.98 140.53
$ 1,983.51
$ 4,351.41
$10,429.82
8,673.28
4,463.00
97.844.93
6,334.92
$ 3,993.42
$10,018.60
$12,667.94
14,644.02
7,565.21
149,966.34
471.39
14,012.02
$127,745.95
$ 20.61
1,022.41
95,094.90
1,983.51
$199,326.92
$ 34.85
1,195.12
119,437.58
3,993.42
5,000.00
$98,121.43
$10,409.21
7,650.87
4,463.00
2,750.03
4,351.41
$129,660.97
$12,633.09
13,448.90
7,565.21
30,528.76
471.39
10,018.60
—5,000.00
,624.52 $69,665.95
20
DIVISION OF GAME AND INLAND FISHERIES
Statement of Receipts and Disbttesements
Biennium 1934-1936
1934-35
VII. Inland Fisheries:
Administration:
Salaries
Commissions
Office Supplies
Field Travel
Printing Forms
Publicity Service.
Legal Costs
Fire Insurance
OfiBce Equipment.
Morrison Hatchery:
Salary, Superintendent
Salaries, Staff
Supplies
Postage
Telephone and Telegrams.
Field Travel..
Motor Vehicle Operation.
.
Lights and Power
Building Repairs.-
Equipment Repairs
Hatchery Equipment
Motor Vehicle Exchangp^_
Water Rights
Murphy Hatchery:
Salary, Superintendent
Labor
Supplies
Postage
Telephone and Telegrams.
Field Travel...
Motor Vehicle Operation..
Building Repairs
Equipment Repairs
Hatchery Equipment
Motor Vehicle Exhcange..
Stedman Hatchery:
Salary, Superintendent
Salary, Staff
Supplies
Postage
Telephone and Telegrams
Express, Freight and Drayage.
Field Travel..
Motor Vehicle Operation
Building Repairs
800 00
2,422 82
7 54
74.33
360.57
10 80
2 52
75.67
$ 3,754.25
$ 1,220.00
900.00
2,945.46
14.24
63.59
9.85
114.89
78.26
5.25
5.00
414.54
1,125.00
S 6,896.08
•S 900.00
267.50
1,591.62
95
33.84
1.50
243.99
475.18
9.87
118.00
314.54
$ 3,956.99
$ 900.00
360.00
973.92
2.00
117.72
3.49
30.00
626.11
83.87
21
Statement op Receipts and DiSBimBEMENTa
—
Continued
Biennium 1934-1936
1934-35 1935-36
Inland Fisheries—Continued
Equipment Repairs
Hatchery Eqviipment
Motor Vehicle Exchange
Roaring Gap Hatchery:
Salary, Superintendent
Labor
Supplies
Postage
Telephone and Telegrams.
Field Travel
Motor Vehicle Operation.
.
Lights and Power
Building Repairs
Equipment Repairs
Hatchery Equipment
Motor Vehicle Exchange..
Boone Hatchery:
Salary, Superintendent.
Salary, Staff
Supplies
Telephone and Telegrams
Motor Vehicle Operation.
Building Repairs
Hatchery Equipment
Motor Vehicle Exchange.
Lake Mattamuskeet:
Salary, Superintendent
Salaries, Wardens
Supplies
Motor Vehicle Operation
Purchase of Motor and Boats.
Total Expenditures
Less Receipts:
Sale of Anglers' Licenses
Transfer from Preceding Year.
Transfer to Succeeding Year.
VIII. Game:
Administration:
Salary, Commissioner.
Salaries, Staff
Salaries, Wardens
54.77
59.87
549.00
$ 47.69
235.07
$ 3,760.75
S 900.00
202 . 20
2,313.74
2.50
7.58
347.29
73.55
261.00
34.75
50.81
440.46
$ 3,610.20
S 1,200.00
432.00
2,770.83
2.00
13.10
1.53
231.81
86.00
56.10
27.78
—31.74
$ 4,633.88
$ 900.00
360.00
1,741.85
15.00
5.63
332.05
176.49
203 . 57
372 , 50
4,789.41
1,080.00
432.00
2,551.64
348.38
208 . 27
17.75
« 4,107.09 S 4,638.04
$ 1,500.00
900.00
19.19
2.35
133.75
$27,109.04
$31,476.06
$ 2,555.29
$28,951.87
$36,062.36
1,920.66
$31,476.06
$ 4,367.02
$ 3,000.00
10,850.84
49,906.62
$37,983.02
$ 9,031.15
$ 4,000.00
16,221.67
79,233.77
22
Statement of Receipts and Disbursements—Continued
Biennium 1934-1936
1935-36
Game—Continued
Stationery and Supplies.
.
License Buttons
Postage
Telephone and Telegran h
Express and Drayage
Field Travel
Printing Forms
Printing Publications
Motor Vehicle Operation.
Typing Records
Publicity Service
Legal Costs
Insurance and Bonding. _
Repairs, Equipment
Alterations, Office
Equipment
Game Farm, Fayetteville:
Salary, Superintendent..
Labor
Supplies
Sustenance for Labor
Travel Expense
Motor Vehicle Operation
.
Repairs
Equipment
Game Farm, Mt. Mitchell:
Salary, Keeper
Supplies
Motor Vehicle Operation _
Repairs
Equipment
Buildings
Refuges, General:
Salary, Superintendent.
.
Office Supplies. _
Postage and Telephone..
Travel Expense
Motor Vehicle Operation.
Motor Vehicle Exchange.
Mt. Mitchell State Game Refuge:
Salaries, Wardens
Daniel Boone State Game Refuge:
Salaries, Wardens
Wayah Bald State Game Refuge:
Salary, Warden
399.99
4,248.64
926.12
315.62
198.07
7,754.77
2,017.33
.545.24
35.30
26.70
60.50
1,287.96
110.82
243.00
1,227.82
i 677.64
3,467.62
1,225.25
711.26
310.63
10,362.82
2,906.64
2,941.19
590 . 46
54.09
235.63
150.00
1,308.56
39.98
.75
223.45
$83,155.34
$ 1,410.00
180.00
1,342.57
180.00
78.60
425 . 50
236.49
$124,661.41
$ 1,680.00
216.00
1,437.99
180.00
105.55
22.00
125.31
702 . 29
$ 3,8.53.16
•S 270.00
1,075.10
21.77
46.07
1,434.29
626 . 96
4,469.14
502.00
894 . 42
134.13
600 . 54
825 . 58
8 3,474.19
$ 1,200.00
2.35
23.46
77.89
717.11
$ 2,956.67
$ 1 440.00
7.84
25.27
76.71
602 . 16
352 . 84
$ 2,020.81
$ 1,200.00
« 690.00
? 600.00
$ 2,504.82
$ 1,440.00
$ 1,320.00
$ 680.00
23
Statement op Receipts and Disbubsements—Continued
Biennium 1934-1936
1935-36
VIII. Game—Continued
Guilford Game Refuge:
Salary, Warden
Rent of Building
Holly Shelter Refuge:
Salary, Warden
Roaring Gap Refuge:
Salary, Warden
P. R. Camp Refuge:
Salary, Warden
Rent--
Migratory Bird Refuges:
Feed and Supplies
Miscellaneous Accounts:
Bounties
Workman's Compensation.
Rebuilding Lake Rim
Donation to Fire Control.
Equipment River Patrol. .
.
Motor Boats Operation
$ 360.00
150.00
30.00
12.60
$ 510.00
S 480.00
$ 360.00
$ 360.00
100.00
42.50
480.00
432.00
432.00
100.00
460.00
$ 137.30
1,184.13
24,704.47
13,500.00
$ 532,00
$ 200.00
$ 79 . 30
206 . 87
5,212.35
17,500.00
1,991.05
410.02
Total Expenditures
Less Receipts:
Sale of Hunting Licenses
Refund of Bounty Payments
Sale of Building (Asheboro)
Special Licenses
Appropriation from Contingency Fund for Rebuilding Lake
Rim .
$39,251.30
$136,054 80
127,642.12
2 , 780 . 50
750.00
$25,240.99
$164,959.53
175,614.92
759.68
213.00
Transfer from Preceding Year.
9,250.00
24,269.17 31,083.35
Transfer to Succeeding Year.
Divisional Summary:
Total Expenditures
Less Receipts
$164,691.79
$28,636.99
$163,163.84
196,167.85
$207,670.95
$42,711.42
$193,911.40
245,653.97
Transfer to Succeeding Y'ear. $ 33,004.01 $ 51,742.57
Financial statement of Division of Commercial Fisheries follows report of this Division.
DIVISION OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES
The fishing industry is one of North Carolina's most valuable natural
resources. There is no possible way of estimating its true value to this and
future generations, but the true worth should run into millions of dollars.
Many thousands of people are engaged in it and many more thousands are
in one way or another affected by it. It should be given every reasonable
protection.
The industry during this past biennium has experienced a substantial
gain, every branch having shown a marked increase in production. The
factors that usually control in this industry have been much more favorable
during this period than in recent years. The fishermen have weathered the
depression and now have their boats and nets back to normal again; they
also have enjoyed better prices for their catch than they did during the past
two bienniums.
FOOD FISH
More people in a wider area are engaged in food fishing than any other
branch. Some time during the year it extends to all of our waters, both
inside and outside. During no single day in the three hundred sixty-five,
except Sunday, is net fishing not done. During the last year of this bien-nium
the fishermen have enjoyed a better market for their fish than they
have for a long time, due in part to better facilities for handling their
product. However, the past shad season was the worst ever experienced,
due partly to flood waters in all the rivers during the shad fishing sea-son.
The fact that the herring season comes a little later than the shad
season accounts for the normal catch this activity enjoyed last year.
Fishing, in general, has been better on the inside for the past two years
on account of the opening of New and Durm Inlets. These improved
conditions have enabled the fishermen to replace many of their boats
and nets. The outlook is toward a steady increase in this important
industry for the reason that better equipment to handle fish than ever
before is available. There have been caught during this biennium 98,-
055,000 pounds of food fish at a value of $2,859,500,
SHRIMP
Shrimping, in a commercial way, is a local activity and has been confined
throughout the years to two counties, Brunswick and Carteret; but during
the past season a great many shrimp were caught in Pamlico County. How-ever,
Brunswick continued to be the banner county, having produced 678,467
pounds more of shrimp for the biennium than Carteret. The production
of the latter county has been proportionally larger than in previous years.
Shrimp in great quantities have been lying off Beaufort Inlet in easy reach
of our trawlers and we are hopeful that they will continue to return to
these waters seasonally. During the past biennium we produced 4,680,746
pounds of shrimp at a value of $280,904.76, which is more than double the
production the previous biennium.
25
MENHADEN
More capital is required to finance this activity than any other phase of
the fisheries. The factories and equipment cost hundreds of thousands of
dollars. As a rule the season lasts only a couple of months—October,
November and part of December. During the past season there was the
largest catch of menhaden in the spring of the year than for a like period
during the past twelve or fifteen years. Most of these fish are caught at
sea during the fall season as they pass the North Carolina Coast on their
way south ; and the number of menhaden caught is wholly dependent on the
weather, because the fish strike in here during the rough, bad weather.
They have passed by before the boats can get out again if the rough weather
lasts long. This phase of the industry employs a large number of men who
have nothing at stake, except their labor, as the boats and equipment are
furnished by the operators. If weather conditions are favorable, the men
make good wages. During the past biennium 210,905,000 menhaden were
caught; 665,785 gallons of oil were manufactured; and scrap in the amount
of 18,100 tons was marketed. In this industry approximately $200,000.00
is invested in boats; $35,000.00 in nets and equipment; and $200,000.00
in factories.
OYSTERS
This branch of seafood industry suffered a severe setback during the
September storm of 1933, which sanded up and killed most of the oysters;
but under the CWA, ERA and WPA we have planted in Dare, Hyde, Pam-lico,
Carteret, Onslow, Pender, New Hanover, and Brunswick Counties
2,133,506 bushels of oysters and shells. We are hopeful that this work will,
in some measure, offset the loss suffered from the storm. This planting was
done at a cost of $193,102.24, or an average of .09 per bushel. Without
some setback it is hoped that this part of the industry will be back to normal
in a few years, although the Bureau of Fisheries through its representative.
Dr. Prytherch, stationed at the laboratory at Beaufort, has found a lot of
borers, whose activity at the present time is confined to Core Sound. He
has advised trapping these pests as the surest method of keeping them
from spreading to larger areas or possibly getting rid of them altogether.
In his experiments with this method, he has had great success and has
found it can be done at a nominal cost. He has recommended that this De-partment
offer a bounty to induce the fishermen to trap the borers and
thus destroy as quickly as possible this natural enemy of the oyster. Dur-ing
the past biennium the State has produced 407,754 bushels of oysters at
a value of $142,713.90, which is 107,000 bushels more than were marketed
in the previous period.
CLAMS
The clam industry has had a marked gain during the past biennium.
This gain followed the opening of Drum Inlet, which was cut through Core
Banks during the September storm, letting sea water into Core Sound and
26
thus adding to its salinity. The clams are now growing in a much larger
area than they have ever grown before and in much greater quantities.
This part of the industry affords a livelihood for fishermen during the sum-mer
months when general fishing is at its slackest. The clams are sold by
the catchers to the bedders, who put them on the northern markets during
the winter months or sell to out-of-State trucks. During the past few years
clams have been produced in commercial quantities only in Brunswick and
Carteret Counties. TTie latter county produces more than all of the other
combined clam growing counties in the State. During the past biennium
we produced 94,832 bushels of clams at a value of $118,540.00, an increase
of 32,124 bushels over the previous biennium.
ESCALLOPS
Carteret is the only escallop-producing county in the State. At one time
this was one of the most valuable industries in this county, but for the past
several years it has almost been wiped out because of the disappearance
of grass in the sounds. Government specialists have not been able to
determine what killed out the grass along the Atlantic Coast. The grass
for the past season has been coming back in some sections, particularly in
Core Sound ; and there has been a great pickup in this part of the industry.
The gain is nine hundred percent over the last biennium, though the total
production was insignificant in comparison with that ten years ago. During
the past biennium the production was 18,708 gallons of escallops, valued
at $37,417.00.
CRABS
The soft-shell crab is caught in commercial quantities only in Carteret
County during the months of April and May. The production of crabs is
so much greater in Maryland than it is in North Carolina that this State's
market is stopped practically at a standstill immediately after the opening
of the crabbing season in that State. North Carolina's season opens about
two months before Maryland begins to produce crabs in commercial quan-tities,
and the out-of-State buyers leave as soon as the season opens there.
A large number of people make good wages at this work during April and
May. The State produced 160,922 dozens of crabs, valued at $160,922.00,
during this biennium. The hard or blue crab is found all along the coast
and has been more valuable during the past two seasons than ever before.
On account of the severe weather which killed out the crabs on the Chesa-peake
Bay last winter much larger production and sales were recorded here.
This activity has grown to be one of the most active of the entire fishing-industry.
There is an ever-increasing demand for hard crab meat. The
number of crab meat houses in this State during this period reached fifteen.
Many loads of hard crabs were hauled away by out-of-State trucks for Vir-ginia
and Maryland crab houses.
27
REPORT OF SANITARY ENGINEER
Captain J. A. Nelson,
Fisheries. Comynissioner,
Morehead City, N. C.
Dear Sir:
I have the pleasure of submitting herewith report of shellfish sanitation
work conducted by this office for the biennium ending June 30, 1936. This
report does not go into detail of the work carried on, but covers in a general
way the various activities.
Great progress has been made in shellfish sanitation during the past two
years. Seafood dealers have learned that it is to their advantage to handle
their products in a clean, sanitary manner and have built or improved their
plants so that we now have packing plants that will compare favorably with
any on the Atlantic Coast.
Close sanitary supervision over the crab meat packing industry has had
much to do with the development of this now important seafood industry
in North Carolina. This office, in cooperation with the U. S. Food and Drug
Administration, has maintained regular inspection and laboratory control
over all inter-state shipments. Fifteen crab meat plants located from
Morehead to Manteo operated in the State during this biennium, giving
employment to several hundred people.
Regular monthly inspections and constant laboratory control work have
been carried on in the oyster and clam packing and shipping industries,
to meet the requirements of the U. S. Public Health Service for inter-state
shipments. An average of fifty shucking and packing plants and seventy-five
shell-stock plants operated during the biennium. Several new and mod-ern
oyster shucking houses were constructed, and with the general improve-ment
in business conditions further improvements are being made. A
system of rating or classifying the plants according to the type of construc-tion
and the manner of operation is now being worked out. This will help
create a keener interest in shellfish sanitation, as each plant or manager
will strive to maintain a good sanitary rating.
Sanitary surveys were made of producing and new areas being developed
along the coast. It was not found necessary to restrict any additional
waters on account of pollution during this biennium. Further work along
this line is needed, since more and more raw sewage is being discharged into
streams leading into our producing areas. Constant supervision over the
patrolling of the restricted areas was also maintained, and several indi-viduals
were prosecuted in court for taking shellfish from these polluted
areas. Due to this strict supervision, no shipments were turned down and
condemned on out-of-State markets.
If the seafood industry is to continue to improve and afford better living
conditions for the people engaged, it is and will increasingly be very impor-tant
that a Division of Shellfish Sanitation be set up and maintained at a
high standard. North Carolina cannot aff'ord not to furnish qualified tech-nical
supervision for this highly important industry, which is the source of
livelihood for several thousand people.
A. B. Freeman,
Assistant Sanitary Engineer.
DIAMOND-BACK TERRAPIN
Some years ago the diamond-back terrapin was in great demand. Because
of this fact and in order to give our fishermen what aid we could toward
supplying this demand—terrapin of best quality were selling on northern
markets as high as $60.00 per dozen—this State in cooperation with the
28
Federal Government began the propagation of diamond-back terrapin at
the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries at Beaufort, North Carolina. Cement pens
were built and two thousand adult terrapins were bought for brood stock.
In the course of time there were liberated yearly in our waters' at selected
points five to ten thousand young terrapin. This has been going on for ten
years, with the result that terrapin are more plentiful in our waters than
ever before. For some years the demand for this choice food has not been
so great as previously. However, the market is becoming more active and,
of course, the price is becoming more attractive. If and when the demand
for this product does increase appreciably, our fishermen will reap a com-paratively
rich harvest that this Department and the Federal Government
have made possible. This is one of the constructive measures the Division
of Commercial Fisheries has fostered in an active, practical way.
PATROL BOATS
Three of our patrol boats are thirty years old and are, therefore, obsolete
and should be replaced with new boats. Often the time element plays a
large part in the enforcement of our regulations. Yet these boats cannot
be made to render the service required of them, because they are slow and
unseaworthy when compared with the more modern boats with which they
must compete. Each of these boats has large bodies of water to patrol and
it is readily seen that more territory is left unprotected for larger periods
of time than would be the case with speedier and more seaworthy boats.
And, too, the operating expense of a new boat would naturally be less. The
Pamlico, Albemarle and Chowan should be disposed of and new boats put
on patrol in their place. The John A. Nelson, the largest of our fleet, is
stationed at Morehead City and is used by the Commissioner for general
supervision in the Sounds. It is used in the ocean at Ocracoke and Hatteras
during the winter months to look after the out-of-State trawlers. The
Roanoke, the speed boat, is also located at Morehead City and is used by
one of the inspectors for collecting licenses and patrolling the closed terri-tories
where oysters and clams are not allowed to be taken. The Pamlico
is stationed at Belhaven, and is used by an inspector for patrolling Pamlico
Sound, Pamlico and Pungo Rivers. The Neuse, one of our small boats, is
stationed at New Bern, and is used by an inspector for patrolling Neuse
River. The Albemarle and the Croatan are stationed at Manteo, and are
used by an Assistant Commissioner, who has charge of staking oflf fishing
limits, enforcing the law and collecting licenses in the lower Albemarle
Sound and Upper Pamlico Sound. The Chowan is stationed at Edenton
and is used by one of the inspectors at that point. He patrols the waters
of upper Albermarle Sound, Chowan, Roanoke, Perquimans, Cashie and
Scuppernong Rivers, collecting licenses and enforcing the fishing regula-tions.
These boats should be on duty the year round to keep the fishermen
informed of the regulations and laws as well as to protect the industry
against would-be violators.
29
KIND, QUANTITY AND VALUE OF FISH TAKEN IN WATERS OF NORTH CAROLINA
For the Period July 1, 1934, to June 1, 1936
Kinds of Fish No. of Pounds Value
Spotted Trout
Gray Trout
Sea Mullet
Blue Fish
Mullet.-
Croakers
Spots
Hogfish
Mackerel
Shad ___
Herring
Butters
Carp
Rock or Striped Bass.
Flounders
Puppy Drum
White Perch
Assorted
Cats
Eels
Jack
Pike.
Pompano
Channel Bass
Sturgeon
Total Food Fish.
Shrimp
Menhaden (No. of Fish).
,700,000
,000,000
,200.000
,000,000
,000.000
,000,000
,000,000
500,000
400,000
,000,000
,000,000
.600.000
200,000
700,000
,000,000
500,000
,000.000
,000,000
450,000
60,000
500.000
20.000
12,000
200.000
5.000
8.000
98.055,000
4.681.746
210.905,000
222,000.00
450,000.00
24,000.00
30,000.00
180.000.00
210,000.00
200,000.00
10,000.00
20.000.00
750,000.00
350.000.00
48,000.00
12.000.00
105.000.00
80.000.00
20.000.00
60.000.00
30,000.00
22.500.00
3.000.00
25.000.00
1.000.00
1.200.00
4,000.00
1.000.00
800.00
$ 2,859,500.00
280,904.76
1,054,425.00
Total Value of Fin Fish. $ 4,194,829.76
Shellfish
Oysters.. 407,754 (Bushels).
Clams. 94,832 (Bushels).
Escallops 18.708 (Gallons).
Soft-Shell Crabs 160,922 (Dozens).
Hard Crabs 10,000,000 (Pounds).
Diamond-Back Terrapin 5.000 (Pounds).
142,713.90
118.540.00
37,416.00
160,922.00
200,000.00
937.50
Total Value of Shellfish $ 660.529.40
Totals
Value of Fin Fish. $4,194,829.76
Value of Shellfish 660.529.40
Total Value Water Products _ $4,855,359.15
30
STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS OF THE DIVISION OF COMMERCIAL
FISHERIES, DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
For Biennium 1934-35—1935-36
1934-35 1935-36
Administration and iNSPEcnoN:
Commissioner's Salary
Assistant Commissioners' Salaries.
-
Commission Employees' Salaries _.
Office Staff
Office Supplies
Postage and Box Rent
Telephone and Telegrams
Traveling Expense—Commissioner-
Printing and Binding
Motor Vehicle Operation
Office Rent
Counsel Fees
Insurance and Bonding
Equipment
Other Expenses
Total.
Patrol Boats:
Salaries and Wages
Supplies
Gas and Oils
Repairs
Equipment.
Subsistence
Docks and Warehouses
Marking Fishing Limits
Fire Insurance—boat J. A. Nelson.
Total
Shellfish Sanitation:
Supplies and Materials.
Equipment
Total.
Total Expenditures.
Less Receipts
Credit Balance.
Appropriation..
Receipts:
Food Fish Licenses and Taxes.
Oyster Licenses and Taxes
Escallop Licenses and Taxes. _
Clam Licenses and Taxes
Crab Licenses and Taxes
Menhaden Licenses
Power Boat Licenses
Other Sources
Total.
3,000.00
1,327.00
6,185.12
2,393.00
245.54
164.25
270.64
317.82
619.46
831.90
700.00
92.00
10.00
$ 16,156.73
3,490.93
1,263.21
1,384.94
486 . 07
196.31
839.00
100.00
122.93
130.00
$ 8,013.39
52.10
20.28
$ 24,242.50
24 , 257 . 29
$ 8,900.77
4,729.39
515.60
1,810.43
3,951.82
2,234.75
289.00
1,825.53
$ 24,257.29
3,600.00
1,411.67
5,826.31
3,420.00
95.94
164.25
250.00
138.52
591.42
632.60
700.00
500.00
99.12
62.00
8.00
17,499.83
3 , 199 . 50
1,051.11
1,323.99
2,279.91
562,55
687 . 50
175.00
395.04
130.00
9,804.60
57.04
57.04
$ 27,361.47
21,605.20
5,756.27
$ 8,386.85
4,615.94
472.30
2,120.37
1,500.52
1,987.75
225.00
2,296.47
$ 21,605.20
DIVISION OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Although this Division has had no full-time personnel during the bi-ennium,
its functions have been maintained to a limited degree through the
office of the Assistant Director.
The collection of state data and statistics, particularly industrial and
commercial, has continued; and the public has been served by the dissemi-nation
of available information requested by numerous individuals and
organizations. There have, however, been no facilities for classification,
collation, and analyzing of these data and statistics for their more effective
use.
This Division has continued to serve as a clearing house for public in-formation
concerning various activities of the Department. The people of
the State have been familiarized with the general conservation program and
also with the status of the work of the different Divisions by means of news
and feature copy provided for the press and the radio.
Press: The newspapers of the State have continued their cooperation
by giving freely of their space to news and feature articles on conservation.
They have also supported editorially the various activities directed toward
obtaining the most effective use of the State's natural resources and for
their preservation for future generations. Their familiarity with the prob-lems
confronting the State and her resources has made this co-operation
doubly valuable; and, to no small degree, much of the progress toward more
effective conservation and development has been made possible by the as-sistance
of the press. The Department takes this means of expressing its
appreciation for the valuable aid rendered by the press of the State.
Radio: Because of restricted personnel, the Division was unable to con-tinue
weekly broadcasts which had been given in previous years during the
first part of the biennium. However, the approval of an educational proj-ect
by the Emergency Relief Administration in June, 1935, made possible
the resumption of the Department's radio programs. All facilities of the
radio stations were made available without cost, and the Department ex-presses
its gratitude to the various stations for their effective cooperation.
Cecil E. Bell, an experienced radio announcer, was employed with funds
furnished by the ERA to prepare and deliver a regular weekly schedule of
dramatized conservation programs. These programs were handled each
week by six North Carolina stations and for part of the time by all the
broadcasting companies in the State. Mr. Bell continued this work for
about six months and at the end of that period he was retained by the De-partment
for the same purpose and to assist in the preparation of publica-tions.
Near the latter part of the biennium, Mr. Bell was assigned to the
special study of resources and industries mentioned later in this report.
"Come to North Carolina" : An attractively illustrated brochure under
this title was brought out in March, 1936, for general tourist information.
This was the first literature of this nature issued by the Department since
1927.
32
The booklet is a guide to the historical, recreational, and scenic attrac-tions
of the State, featured by a small-scale map on which various points
of outstanding interest are spotted. Its cover and the map were done in
four colors and numerous illustrations were used in the txt.
Because of limited funds, only 44,000 of the booklets were printed. Even
before the press run was complete, requests for at least double the number
available had been received, and it was necessary to cut each allotment more
than half. The principal distribution of the publication was through travel
agencies scattered throughout the country. Some of these began requests
for more copies within a few weeks but it was possible to furnish only a
limited number of these. Chambers of Commerce in the various cities of
the State also cooperated with the Department in distributing the booklet,
and few of these received a sufficient number to meet their demands.
Within approximately 60 days, the entire supply of the publication, with
the exception of a small number retained for meeting individual inquiries
received by the Department, had been distributed. Requests for thousands
of copies since that time could not be met.
According to numerous comments received by the Department, the bro-chure,
together with an attractive four-color highway map issued by the
State Highway and Public Works Commission, was an important factor in
one of the best tourist seasons experienced in years in North Carolina. The
Department is seeking means of bringing out a reprint of the publication.
Conservation Text: It has been the plan of the Department to urge that
the study of conservation be prescribed in an appropriate grade in the
public schools of the State. With this idea in view, a proposed text book
is now under preparation. The subject is being treated in such a manner
as to interest as well as inform the pupil concerning the great natural re-sources
with which the State has been endowed and to create a more whole-some
respect for these gifts of the Divine Creator.
Preliminary copy has been prepared and will be ready for publication
when checked thoroughly and revised, if approved by the educational au-thorities.
Manuscript should be completed within the next fiscal year.
Informational Leaflets: In order to meet numerous requests for general
information concerning the State, the Division has issued several mimeo-graph
sheets.
One of the most popular of these leaflets is "Facts About North Caro-lina",
first compiled several years ago but which has been brought up to
date several times. General data on population, geography, industry, cli-mate,
education, highways, history, natural resources and other subjects
are contained in this sheet. It has been reissued probably a score of times
and thousands of copies given out. The principal distribution has been to
North Carolina school children; and in addition, hundreds have been used
for response to inquiries for general information on the State.
Another mimeograph issued by the Division was under the title, "Con-servation
Suggestions for Organized Groups." This circular is intended to
answer such questions as: "What is conservation? Why is it necessary?
How does it affect life, health, and happiness?" The sheet describes briefly
the objectives of conservation, and suggests particular research and projects
33
dealing with natural resources. It is designed especially for distribution to
organizations interested in various phases of the Department's program.
Report on Resources and Industries : The Division is cooperating with
the Division of Water Resources and Engineering in the compilation of a
report on the resources and industries of the State. This study was started
near the closing of the biennium, and is scheduled to be completed by the
end of the calendar year.
The report is being made at the request of Governor Ehringhaus, and it
is hoped that regular inventories of this nature may be continued as one
of the functions of the Department. Data gathered during the survey are
intended as an index to guide future development and to encourage a more
thorough utilization of all the resources of the State.
Industrial Promotion: During the early months of this biennium the
calls for information from industrial and commercial concerns interested
in locating in the State have been infrequent, but with improving general
conditions there is an increased demand for this type of data.
More adequate facilities for gathering and utilizing basic industrial in-formaton
are needed if the Department meets demands for these data. It
is believed that intelligent efforts of this nature to promote the industrial
and commercial development of North Carolina will be a sound investment.
If a State advertising fund is provided, the demands for reliable and
up-to-date information on raw materials and facilities of a widely varied
character will be intensified. Inquiries for definite data will be more fre-quent
and should be followed up intelligently and thoroughly.
DIVISION OF FORESTRY
There are two State agencies dealing with State-wide Forestry in North
Carolina, each cooperating with its separate bui-eau of the United States
Department of Agriculture under the Clark-McNary Law. These are the
Forestry Division of the Department of Conservation and Development,
commonly known in the field as the State Forest Service; and the Forestry
Division of the Agricultural Extension Service. This latter receives aid
through the United States Agricultural Extension Service. R. W. Graeber,
extension forester, whose office is at State College, cooperates with the
State Forester in the distribution of tree seedlings produced by the Depart-ment
of Conservation and Development in its forest nursery for forest
planting on the farms of the State.
The Division of Forestry has for convenience in bookkeeping as well as
in administration been divided into four branches. By far the largest and
most important branch is that of Forest Fire Control which has been in
charge of W. C. McCormick since May, 1934. During that time a number
of changes in personnel, a very considerable extension of the area, and an
increase in available funds have taken place. According to officials of the
United States Forest Service, the proportion of forest land now under
proper protection in North Carolina is greater than that of any state in the
southeastern region.
The branch of Forests and Parks was until August, 1935, in direct charge
of the State Forester. With the greatly increased work, due to the coop-eration
of the National Park Service in the acquisition and development of
State Parks through the Emergency Conservation Work, competent assist-ance
became imperative, and the services of Thomas W. Morse, a trained
landscape architect with considerable business experience, were secured.
He, with the efficient assistance of Miss Annie Ramsey, who had previously
been responsible for the major part of the business connected with park
development under ECW, now handles the State Park work with energy
and effectiveness.
The remainder of the forestry work, including supervision of the State
Forest Nursery, the various Federal and State contacts and such educa-tional
work as it is possible to do under the limited appropriation, are car-ried
on directly by the State Forester and his Secretary.
Some additional clerical help has been received through a WPA project
in both the Park and the Forester's office for which thanks are due this
Federal relief organization. With the rapid expansion of the forest plant-ing
program and the development of the enlarged forest nursery an assist-ant
forester, trained and experienced in nursery and planting work, has
become a necessity. Provision for such a man will be asked of the next
General Assembly.
Unfortunately through lack of proper State office accommodation it has
been necessary to divide the work and personnel of this division, Mr. Morse
with his Federally-paid clerical force occupying rooms in the Commercial
Bank building, while the ECW, which is closely tied up with the State
Forester and with the Forest Fire Control branch, is also located several
35
blocks away from une State office. Not only does this situation consume
unnecessary time but it prevents close contact of administrative officials,
contributing thei'eby towards inefficiency. A State building where the whole
department can be together and function as a unit seems to be one of the
principal needs at the present time.
In addition to the State forestry agencies operating in North Carolina
there are a number of regular as well as emergency Federal agencies cover-ing
parts or all of the State. Some brief reports of the activities of the
more important ones are included in this report.
FOREST FIRE CONTROL
The branch of forest fire control of the Forestry Division of the Depart-ment
has made considerable progress within the period covered by this
report. A substantial increase in the state appropriation was made avail-able
for this work through the action of the last legislature, which made
possible the broadening of activities and put under protection additional
counties and areas of privately-owned timberland. The Federal Govern-ment,
under the Clarke-McNary Law, which provides that the government
will reimburse qualifying states not in excess of 50 per cent of monies
spent by such states for forest fire prevention, appropriated $50,560 per
year for the two years. Increased county funds through the inclusion of
additional counties and additional county appropriations were needed;
increased private funds through the cooperation of additional timberland
owners, together with a larger State's appropriation for the last half of
this biennium, were responsible for our ability to expand. The result was
that the fire control section of the Division of Forestry has been supervising
the largest acreage ever placed under protection in the history of the State,
which automatically increased the field personnel to the largest number
of employees ever under appointment; and while a most severe fire season
was encountered during the spring and summer of 1936, every fire within a
cooperating county or upon a cooperating unit was handled in a satisfactory
manner and thousands of acres of timberland saved from destruction.
Personnel: Because of the demand for foresters made by government
agencies and the enlarged program of the fire control organization, a con-siderable
turnover in personnel during this biennium was encountered. At
the beginning of this biennium there were six established forestry districts,
with only three District Foresters handling the work. This was due pri-marily
to the fact that salaries had been reduced to such a point that
Federal agencies had been able to take away many of our technically
trained and experienced foresters. This condition existed until late in the
spring of 1935.
Of the three District Foresters above mentioned, L. A. Carter resigned
January 14, 1935, to accept work with the U. S. Soil Conservation Service,
leaving only two experienced men. On October 15, 1935, W. A. Peterson
resigned to accept work with the Resettlement Administration, leaving
only one.
Through meager savings made in the salaries of these resigned District
Foresters, it was possible to appoint J. B. Lattay, a technically trained and
86
experienced forester, on April 16, 1935, to replace Mr. Carter. In May,
through further savings in salaries, it was possible to appoint J. R. Spratt
and J. M. Stingley, both graduates in Forestry from the N. C. State College,
as District Foresters, both men having had practical experience. In July,
1935, J. D. Findlay, also a graduate of N. C. State College in Forestry, was
engaged as District Forester. In November, 1935, P. W. Tillman, a gradu-ate
forester with several years' experience in the U. S. Forest Service, was
appointed District Forester. Therefore, on January 1, 1936, W. K. Beichler,
the remaining Senior District Forester, had charge of the two mountain
districts with a District Forester in charge of each of the four eastern dis-tricts,
making a total of six District Foresters, one acting as Assistant
District Forester in a training capacity.
Dan Blake of Asheville was appointed District Ranger in November, 1934.
J. R. Miller, who had been in the service for a number of years, took leave,
without pay, effective June 30, 1936, due to the condition of his health. On
June 1, 1935, W. S. Ragsdale, former County Warden, was promoted to
District Ranger; Ragsdale resigned effective June 30, 1936. District For-ester
W. K. Beichler was promoted to Forest Inspector and transferred
from Asheville to the Raleigh Office effective July 1, 1936.
On July 1, 1935, through a rearrangement of the forestry areas. District 3
headquarters was established at Rockingham in the new Federal Building;
District 5 headquarters was transferred from Washington, North Carolina,
to Rocky Mount. The six district headquarters on June 30, 1936, were as
follows: District 1, Asheville; District 2, Lenoir; District 3, Rockingham;
District 4, New Bern; District 5, Rocky Mount; and District 6, Fayetteville.
All of these offices are in Federal buildings or city offices, with the exception
of Fayetteville.
Present Organization: The organization of the forest fire control branch
of the Division of Forestry as set up July 1, 1936, is as follows : the Assist-ant
State Forester as Chief of Forest Fire Control; a Forest Inspector and
three office assistants constitute the Central Office force; and the Chief of
Forest Fire Control and the Forest Inspector both work out of the Central
Office at Raleigh.
Five District Foresters, technically trained and with practical experience,
are in charge of fire control activities in six Districts. Six District Forest
Rangers, non-technical, promoted from the warden ranks, serve as assistants
to the District Foresters in field activities and direct contact men with the
warden organzation in the field. Six Clerk-Stenographers, one in each
District Office, handling all office routine, accounts, etc. Fifty-six County
Forest Wardens, one in each cooperating county, in charge of fire control
within the county. Ten Association Rangers on as many associations. All
of these County Wardens and Rangers are full-time men, and all taxpayers,
who devote their entire time to the work assig-ned them. In many cases
the County Wardens are combination Forest, Game and Fish Wardens and
are jointly paid by the three divisions. Twenty-nine of these County War-dens
and five Association Rangers are supplied with a State-and-covmty or
Association-owned fire-fighting truck. Each county is divided into fire dis-tricts
averaging about 14,000 acres of timberland to the district and a
District Forest Warden working directly under the County Warden in
37
charge of each of these county fire districts. District Wardens are paid on
an hourly basis for the exact amount of time they devote to the work.
District Wardens sign up Pledged Crews of fire fighters, who respond to
their calls and work with them on all fires, thereby forming a trained fire
fighting crew rather than depending on pick-up labor. This has proven
very satisfactory.
During the fire season, which usually runs from November 1 until the
middle of May, towermen were employed at each of the 66 lookout towers
and five other points which were manned for this purpose, making a total of
71 seasonal employees during the fire period in detection work. There were
approximately 200 men employed during the fire season who form three-to
five-man fire crews which were stationed at certain towers throughout
the cooperating counties and on protective associations.
The above listed full-time and seasonal employees, together with District
Wardens, averaging approximately 15 to the county, bring the total number
of permanent and part-time employees up to approximately 1,100. The 22
employees comprising the Raleigh and field headquarters personnel are
entrusted with the supervision, disbursement of funds and all work con-nected
with the direction of 56 County Wardens and approximately 1,000
seasonal employees and fire control plans and activities necessary in the
protection of approximately 14,000,000 acres of forest land or 75 per cent
of the total forested area of the State needing protection.
PROGRESS CHART
June 30
1932-33
June 30
1933-34
June 30
1934-35
June 30
1935-36
3
4
30
803
30
35
5,804,343
$ 23,150
5,064
4,740
17,000
50,560
3
4
33
884
33
54
6,405,975
$ 17,845
4,400
2,755
11,000
36,000
3
4
44
800
44
62
9,862,289
$ 36 , 020
5,430
2,755
13,000
50,560
6
6
56
1,000
56
Private timberland o^-ners cooperating
Forest area under protection (acres) _
Finances:
77
13,634,000
$ 53 , 000
9,100
24,930
15,000
50,560
$ 100,514
1.7 cents
$ 72,000
1.1 cents
$ 107,765
1.1 cents
$ 152,590
1.12 cents
Note: In June-July, 1936, a complete new survey was made of the forest area needing protection
in the State and the cost of giving this area adequate fire protection. Results:
Total forest area needing state protection 20,339,122 acres
Annual cost per acre of adequate protection 4.9 cents
This cost is based upon an allowable annual burn of 1.18 per cent of the forest area. It represents, then,
an annual expenditiire of less than 5 cents to protect an acre of forest land which can be conservatively
valued at from $10-$15.
38
County Cooperation: Prior to July 1, 1935, county cooperation with the
State in fire control was voluntary. In event a county did not wish to
cooperate with the State there was no law empowering the State to establish
fire control in such county, with the result that throughout the several
forestry districts there were numerous counties not cooperating and in
some instances completely surrounded by cooperating counties. Fires origi-nating
in these non-cooperating counties spread into cooperating counties,
uncontrolled, materially increasing the cost of protection in cooperating
counties,
A law, enacted in 1935 by the Legislature, broadened the powers of the
State Forester through permitting the establishment of a fire control
organization in any county in which, in the State Forester's estimation,
based entirely upon existing fire conditions and timber values at stake, fire
control was necessary. While it has not yet been necessary to use this law,
its existence is believed to have been instrumental in securing the voluntary
cooperation of some previously non-cooperating counties, with the result that
on June 30, 1936, the counties formed a solid block of cooperating units from
Virginia to the South Carolina line through the Coastal Plains and Sand-hill
Section of the State in which the greatest fire hazard exists. The num-ber
of cooperating counties increased from thirty-two in 1934 to fifty-six
in the spring of 1936 and additional counties have signed agreements to
cooperate, effective July 1, 1936. From July 1, 1934, to June 30, 1936—
the period of this report—no county dropped out of the organization nor
have any indicated a desire to do so. This is a condition that did not exist
prior to the passage of the law. This makes possible the planning of fire
control work over a period of years without the constant fear of a county
withdrawing if and when it chooses, thus breaking down the organization
to that extent. On next page will be found a tabulation showing cooperating
counties with sums made available by them for the past several years and
the dates on which they begin cooperation with the State in fire control.
Private Cooperation: In addition to the county cooperative setup, indi-vidual
timberland owners, or groups of timberland owners may list with
the State their holdings where the total acreage is not less than 30,000
acres. The assessment rate on these lands varies according to what is con-sidered
necessary to give adequate protection and usually ranges from one
to ten cents per acre, this sum being matched by an equal amount of State
and Federal funds. On June 30, 1936, there were 13 protective associations
functioning. These associations embrace approximately 400,000 acres and
are owned by 77 landowners. With four exceptions, all of these holdings
are within the boundaries of cooperating counties.
The funds provided by these cooperators are forwarded to the State at
the beginning of each fiscal year and deposited in a special fund for dis-bursement
by the Division of Forestry. Budgets are prepared at the be-ginning
of each fiscal year covering each association and reports showing
accomplishments and disbursements are supplied each cooperator at the
end of each fiscal year. The funds provided by the cooperators enable addi-tional
protection to their timberlands, through the purchase of tractors,
fire line plows, road machinery and other equipment necessary in the con-struction
and maintenance of plowed fire lines; building of spur telephone
39
COUNTIES COOPERATING AND ANNUAL SUMS MADE AVAILABLE BY THEM
County 1932-33 1933-34 1934-35 1935-36
$ $ $ 500
700
500
1,250
1,000
1,500
2,000
1,000
1,300
1,000
1,000
S 750
700
Avery 500 500 600
1,250
Bertie 680 1,000 1,500
1,500
2,000
1,000
1,300
1,000
1,000
1,300
1,000
1,200
1,000
Burke - 1,300
Caldwell . 1,000
700
Clav 400
1,500
1,000
750
700
1,000
750
700
1,100
600
700
825
700
1,500
500 650 1,000
600
600
1,000
500
400
400
750
400
570
1,000
700
500
600
500
400
500
500
500
600
500
400
400
600
400
420
600
Halifax -- 1,000
700
400
400
Hertford __ 750
300
600
750
1,600
300
800
500
750
1,100
1,250
300 300 300
800
Macon
Montgomery
565
750
1,000
500
750
1,000
500
750
1,250
800
1,000
750
1,250
500 500 750
850
Pitt -_-__-_ .-_ - 1,200
500
1,200
Polk --. - . 300 500
Pender _ ..- -- _ 1,500
1,000 1,200
1,628
1,000
1,200
2,520
1,000
1,250
1,500
1,000 1,000
1,500
600 600 600 600
Stanly. . .. . ... 700
200
600
500
600
600
Transylvania 600 600
750
500 600 750 750
Wake --- _ 1,000
Wayne
Wilkes
800
500
700
844
500
700
1,000
500
800
1,250
500
Wilson.
-
800
Washington . 850
Yancey ... ..__ 300 500
Number Counties cooperating 30 33 44 56
40
lines; employment of year-long' Association Rangers under State appoint-ment;
and other protective measures.
Following is a list of the associations above mentioned, showing names,
rates of assessment, location, etc.
FOREST PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATIONS
Name of Association
Assess-ment
Rate
Location—County
Number
Individuals in
Association
Acreage Listed
1934-35 1935-36 1934-35 1935-36
Elk Creek Association
-
2)i
H
Hn
2«!
If!
H
Watagua, Wilkes,
Caldwell
Burke, McDowell
Rutherford
1
6
14
14
1
1
6
14
5
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
1
1
19
1
20
40,000
38,000
14,000
32,000
6,600
20,000
25,000
39,000
30,000
10,000
34,000
31,000
South Mountain Association
40,000
38,000
14,000
(Minimum dues $5).
17,000
6,600
State College Association Onslow, Jones 84,000
Eureka Lumber Co. Association Beaufort . 8,000
East Carolina Land Association Beaufort _ . 20,000
Camp Mfg. Company . Bertie 1
1
3
1
1
15
20,000
Camp Mfg. Company . Hertford-Gates
Harnett, Hoke,
Cumberland
25,000
Overhills Protective Association
36,000
30,000
Cooper River Timber Co. 10,000
Orton Protective Association... Brunswick 36,000
15,000
Waccamaw Protective Ass'n Columbus-Bladen .
.
4 35,000
Total 62 77 319,600 434,600
Fire Control Improvements : During this biennium, the State and coop-erators
have been called upon to bear only a small portion of the fire control
improvements during this period. The major portion of all improvements
consists of lookout towers, tower houses, trailer sheds, telephone lines, roads,
trails, and fire breaks, having been constructed with CCC labor under
the direction of the Emergency Conservation Work, which agency bore all
costs of material.
In the list of towers made a part of this report, it will be noted that, with
one exception, all of the towers listed as having been constructed during
this period were built from ECW funds by CCC labor. In the case of
this one exception, only the cost of the tower itself was borne by State
cooperative funds, all erection costs being paid by ECW.
Seven other towers have been purchased and are on the ground for erec-tion.
These will be included in the next biennial report.
41
THE FOLLOWING TOWERS HAVE BEEN PURCHASED BY ECW AND
ERECTED THIS BIENNIUM
Name Height County Date
Built
By
Tower
Costs*
Tower House
Number RoomB
Greens Cross
Liles
Mamers
Southern Pines..
Tryon Mountain.
Rendezvous
Mountain
Dudley
Wilson
Toxaway
High Windy
Roaring Gap
Shallotte
Maco
• Jones Lake
East Robeson
Swift Creek
Wilmar
Newkirk
Everetts
Rose Hill
Comfort
Young
Earpt
Ward's Corner..
-
Chinquapin
Plymouth
Foreman
99'9"
79 '6'
72 '9'
72'9'
45'9'
59'3'
99'9'
99'9'
45'9'
45'9'
59 '3"
99'9'
99'9''
99 '9"
99 '9'
79'6'
99'9"
99'9'
99'9'
99'9'
102'
120'
99'9'
99'9'
99'9'
Bertie
Halifax
Harnett
Moore
Polk .-
Wilkes.
Wayne
Wilson
Transylvania
Buncombe
Alleghany
Brunswick
Brunswick
Bladen
Robeson
Nash
Craven
Sampson
Beaufort
Duplin
Jones
Johnston
Johnston
Pender
Duplin
Washington.
.
Martin
Aug. 1934.
July 1934..
Sept. 1934.
July 1934..
July 1934..
Oct. 1934..
Sept. 1934.
Sept. 1934.
Oct. 1935..
Sept. 1934-
June 1935.
Feb. 1935.-
Dec. 1935..
Jan. 1935..
Feb. 1935..
Mar. 1935-
Feb. 1935..
Nov. 1935.
Dec. 1935..
Nov. 1935.
Dec. 1935..
Nov. 1935.
Dec. 1935..
April 1936.
May 1936-
April 1936.
April 1936.
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
51,255.54
1,086.82
990.63
991.47
873.35
823
1,745,
1,422.
889,
968,
963,
2,122,
1 , 697
.
1,531.
1,714.
1,221.
2,149,
1,423,
1,410.
1,630,
2,001,
1,095,
894,
2,088,
1,877,
1 , 770
,
1,978,
2-room
2-room
2-room
4-room
1-room cabin
room
•room
•room cabin
room cabin
room cabin
room
room
room
room
room
5-room
Includes cost of tower, freight, labor and other materials used in construction.
tThis tower was purchased by a cooperator, and erected by ECW (State costs were $45 and ECW
costs were
In addition to the above, ECW purchased and constructed the following
tower houses at other tower sites:
Table Rock, Burke County 1-room cabin
Bolivia, Brunswick County, June, 1935 5-room
The above towers, as noted, represent a total investment of $38,073, all
of which was provided by the ECW program during this biennium at no
cost to the State or Counties. Furthermore, the cost of the tower houses
is not included in that figure (these houses represent an investment of
about $18,250, also without cost to the State or Counties).
Including the above towers and tower houses, the State has 73 towers
used solely for forest fire detection. The Department's plan for fire control
over the entire State calls for a final system of 123 such towers, their loca-tion
being so arranged as to give complete coverage to all forest areas need-ing
such protection, and to fit into the existing tower systems of the U. S.
Forest Service and National Park Service.
42
Telephone Lines: To make the fullest use of the towers in the detection
system, telephone lines connecting these towers with each other in series,
are necessary. Telephones in the homes of wardens living upon such lines
and the County Wardens connected with the towers in the counties are also
needed. During the past two years there have been constructed approxi-mately
370 miles of telephone line. All construction work has been done by
ECW, and with the exception of approximately 18 miles of wire pur-chased
from State funds, all material has been supplied by ECW. In the
main the lines are metallic circuits. Therefore, the 370 miles of telephone
line represent approximately 740 miles of wire. Meagre available funds
would not have permitted the construction of this mileage of telephone line
from State and cooperator's funds; and we are, thei'efore, greatly indebted
to ECW for this much needed improvement.
TELEPHONE LINES CONSTRUCTED THIS BIENNIUM
Name of Line
Tuscarora Tower Line
Rhems Line
Bearwal low-Fa irview
Bearwallow-Edneyville
Chambers Mountain-Clyde
High Windy-Blue Ridge
Tryon Mountain Highway No. 19
Warden Smart-Rutherfordton
Biggerstaff-Pinnacle System Connection
Biggerstaff Tower-Melton-Warden Owens.
Biggerstaff System-Dave Smith
Hawshaw Tower-Vance-Newland „
Rendezvous Tower-Warden Nichols
Table Rock System-Morganton
Warden Wise-Warden Dellinger
Table Rock Lookout-Warden Beck
(Relocating and rebuilding)
Hibriten Tower-Lenoir
Rendezvous Tower-Stamper's
McCormick's-Linden Line
Scotland Tower-Hoffman Laurinburg Line
Mamers Tower-Lillington
Sassafras Tower-Rosman
Horse Ridge Tower-Dave Smith
Roaring Gap Tower-Highway
Dudley Tower Line
Wilmar Tower Line
Woolard's to Washington
Swift Creek Tower Line
Lillington to Ray's
Highway 15A to McLean's
Jones Lake Tower-Sutton's Store
Palestine Tower-Fayetteville
Palestine Line to McLean's
Mamers-Lillington-Ray Spur Lines
Shallotte Tower-Dawson Jones
Orton Tower-Reed's
Highway 17 to Johnson's
Length
Miles
1
5
6
9
3
3
8^
7
25
2H
4
3
15
2
7 'A
4
16
13
1
9
9
7.5
0.6
5\4
9
2.4
1
9.7
1
4
4.5
0.9
1.3
35.1
12.2
3.5
Covinty
Craven
Craven
Buncombe
Henderson.-.
Haywood
Buncombe
Polk
Rutherford.
.
Rutherford. _
Rutherford _ _
Rutherford.
Avery
Wilkes
Burke
Burke
Burke
Caldwell
Wilkes
Harnett
Richmond
Harnett
Transylvania
Burke
Alleghany
Wayne
Craven
Beaufort
Nash
Scotland
Scotland
Bladen
Cumberland.
Harnett
Harnett
Brunswick
Brunswick
Brunswick
Year
Built
1934
1934
1934
1934
1934
1934
1934
1934
1934
1934
1934
1934
1934
1934
1934
1934
1934
1934
1934
1934
1934
1935
1935
1935
1935
1935
1935
1935
1935
1935
1935
1935
1935
1935
1935
1935
1935
Built
By
NCFS
NCFS
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
Type
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Ground
Ground
Ground
Ground
Met.
Met.
Ground
Ground
Ground
Met.
Ground
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
43
TELEPHONE LINES CONSTRUCTED THIS BIBT^NIVM—Continued
Name of Line
Highway 17 to Coleman's
Funston Road to Earp's
Reed's to Foulke's
Rockingham-County Warden
Rougemont-Mount Tirzah Tower
Scotland Neck to Scotland Neck Tower
Lilea Tower-Lit tleton
Northampton Tower-Jackson
Scotland Co.-York Spur
Scotland Co.-Bostic
Anson Co. Line No. 1
Montgomery Co.-O. D. Smith Spur
Southern Pines-Southern Pines Tower
Aberdeen-Carthage Line to Ferguson's
Laurel Hill-Ralph Curries'
Highway No. 15 to Barber's
Highway No. 15 to Monroe's
Laurinburg to EUerbe
Clarkton to McQueen's
East Robeson Tower-Lumberton
Fayetteville to Cedar Creek Tower and
Green Bros. Lumber Co
Toxaway Tower-Fairfield
Toxaway Tower-Lake Toxaway .
Length
Miles
1.4
0.1
3.0
2.0
5.0
4.4
7.6
4.7
0.8
1.5
6.0
4.0
H
IH
7.3
3
2
52
3.0
8.2
16.8
5.2
9.3
County
Brunswick
Brunswick
Brunswick
Richmond
Durham-Person
Halifax
Halifax
Northampton..
Scotland
Scotland
Anson
Montgomery
Moore
Moore
Scotland
Scotland
Scotland
Scotland
Bladen
Robeson
Cumberland
Jackson
Transylvania
Year
Built
1935
1935
1935
1935
1935
1935
1935
1935
1936
1936
1936
1936
1936
1936
1936
1936
1936
1936
1936
1936
1936
1936
1936
Built
By
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
NCFS
NCFS
NCFS
NCFS
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
ECW
Type
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
Met.
The above 406.5 miles of telephone line, at an average cost of $200 per
mile, represent an investment of about $81,900. About $80,000 of this was
borne by ECW at no cost to'the State or Counties.
Truck Trails: On June 30, 1936, there had been constructed a total ol
1,053 miles truck trails by the Emergency Conservation Work. Of this
mileage, 600 miles were built during the biennium. These roads are used
for accessibility, for fire fighting purposes, into previously inaccessible
areas, and have proven of material assistance in allowing the organization
to reach fires with the least possible delaj?^, thereby reducing the area
burned. They are low grade roads and not highways—constructed for fire
control purposes only. They also act as fire breaks and back-fire lines when
back-fires are necessary.
Fire Lines: Approximately 800 miles of fire lines have been constructed;
and about 500 miles of this line were built by ECW and consisted of
plowed lines ranging from six to nine feet in width, used as fire breaks and
as back-fire lines. On one association area, embracing some 15,000 acres
of land, approximately 300 miles of six-foot plowed furrows were con-structed
from State cooperative funds as added protection against fire. Sev-eral
hundred miles of fire line have been maintained annually on cooperat-ing
units by the State by re-plowing old lines and burning between lines
and roads,
44
Tower Houses: Up to June 30, 1936, ECW had constructed 24 trailer
sheds, ten one-room cabins, two five-room towermen's houses at as many-towers;
also one large lookout cabin used as a tower itself. In addition to
these the State had previously put up from cooperative funds seven tower
houses at as many towers. These buildings are of three classes: five-room
bungalows, two-room buildings, one room for living quarters and one
a garage for the storage of the fire-fighting trailers and other fire-fighting
equipment; and one-room cabins for the accommodation of the towermen
at the towers in the mountains of the two western districts. Nearly all are
accessible by road, and all are connected with telephone to wardens or
commercial exchanges.
In securing tower sites in the Eastern Districts we are requesting one-acre
tracts, preferably deeded to the State. Sites including 24 acres of land
are State property and long-time leases cover an additional 18 acres. Where
no deeds can be secured, from 39 to 99-year leases are given us. Where
it is deemed advisable year-long towermen are being employed at a small
wage and furnished with a house, a garden site and a small place for keep-ing
poultry and a cow. The full-time of these employees is required during
the fire season but it is stipulated in their appointment that during the
off-fire season, or during the period when their services are not required
on lookout duty, they are at liberty to engage in any other activity, pro-viding
they retain a residence at the tower and are available at all times
for call when needed. By this means vandalism at these tower sites is pre-vented;
a trained and satisfactory detection organization is retained; these
towermen are subject to call at any time their services are needed. In the
case of towers in the Mountain Districts, sites are obtained either by lease
or deed, and are generally one-fourth to one-half acre in size. Since fires
in the mountains are usually definitely seasonal, the towerman is not needed
the entire year, garden sites at the towers are not practical, and hence the
larger sites are not required. The tower houses which ECW has con-structed
range in value from $1,500 for the five-room bungalows to $350
each for the cabins at the mountain towers. A list of these tower houses
will be found in Table 9 on page 41.
Fire-Fighting Equipment: After having experimented with all approved
forest fire-fighting equipment in use in the South over a period of years we
have selected a limited list of equipment that has been found most satis-factory
for the needs in this State. Prime among this equipment is a five-gallon
back-pack spray pump, manufactured by the D. B. Smith Company.
We standardized on a specially constructed fire rake made with mowing
machine teeth instead of the regular rake tooth. This is manufactured by
the Council Tool Company of Wananish. A special brush hook manufac-tured
in a manner to permit of its use as a light axe as well as a brush
hook is also used. This is also made by the Council Tool Company. We
use an 18-inch by 24-inch swatter made from a piece of belting of this size
properly attached to a straight handle for beating out fires. In addition
to the above standard equipment we use single-bit axes, long-handled
shovels, railroad fusees for back-firing purposes, five-gallon back-pack
water supply tanks for filling the fire pumps, ordinary galvanized water
45
buckets, and lanterns in night work. Some use is made of cross-cut saws
and, in the mountains, of double-bit axes. Gasoline-operated portable power
pumps are being considered as standard equipment, as far as limited
funds will permit. A list of equipment follows:
LIST OF PRINCIPAL ITEMS OF FIRE-FIGHTING EQUIPMENT
Purchased
During
Biennium
Total on
Hand Date of
This Report
37
66
379
265
444
65
1,275
1,789
16
1
38
100
Water buckets .-... -._...- .. ..-. 492
709
628
69
2,864
5,137
66
21
A majority of the 34 half-ton trucks in service are equipped with 75-
gallon water tanks and motor-driven centrifugal pumps for filling and dis-charging
the tanks under pressure with sufficient hose for use while the
truck is moving or for carrying out lines of hose on fire. Each truck is
equipped with sufficient fire-fighting equipment and carrying capacity for
ten fire fighters.
In addition to the above there are in operation 60 two-wheel fire-fighting
trailers which are attached to the rear of wardens' cars. They are supplied
with a 55-gallon reserve water tank, sufficient tools and equipment for ten
men.
We have purchased during this biennium for use on association areas, two
light caterpillar tractors, two 3-disc fire line plows, one road machine, one
heavy tractor disc harrow; and there have also been secured, at a small
cost, several discarded motors and chassis of county school busses which are
being worked over into fire-fighting trucks to be stationed at towers.
Forest Fire Statistics : In spite of the fact that beginning July 1, 1934,
approximately 4,000,000 acres of additional timbered area were brought
under protection, the number of fires was reduced from 1,700 in the spring
of 1934 to 251 in the fall of that year and the total area burned from 169,000
acres in the spring to 13,000 acres in the fall. The average area burned
per fire was also materially reduced along with the total cost per fire, which
was reduced better than half from the spring season. The spring of 1935
was what would be considered a normal spring fire season and the fall of
this year again represented a reduction of the number of fires from the
spring season. The area under protection was increased to approximately
14,000,000 acres during this biennium.
The spring of 1936, however, represented one of the worst fire seasons
46
in the history of the Forest Service. The field organization functioned per-fectly.
There were ample equipment and funds for operation during the
period of a normal fire season but fires gradually increased, causing a very
serious situation in May and June. Where there were 1,700 fires in the
spring of 1935 there were 3,405 during the spring months of 1936; and
where $43,000 was spent in handling these 1,700 fires, $92,607 was expended
in handling the fires in the spring of 1936. This abnormal condition, com-ing
after the normal closing date of a spring season, completely absorbed
all of the remaining funds and caused a deficit. In spite of the outlay and
the increased number of fires, we were able to hold the average cost down
to $3.55 per fire.
Two conditions are responsible for this large number of fires.
First, there was a larger area under protection by almost 5,000,000 acres,
or one-third. However, there was in the field a larger organization, a better
detection system, a better reporting system and a better trained organiza-tion.
The result was that more fires were discovered, reported, and worked
upon than would have been possible with a smaller and less efficient organi-zation.
Second, the drought condition that existed, particularly through the
Coastal Plains section, was responsible for many fires getting out of con-trol
and the dried-out condition in the bays and pocosins caused these fires
to burn more persistently. This materially increased suppression costs.
The late spring, preventing farmers from starting farming operations at
the ordinary time, caused a widespread outburst of fires from brush-burning
and other agricultural activities as farmers were enabled to get into the
woodlots and fields at a time when the climatic conditions were most favor-able
for burning and when fires spread most rapidly.
Ordinarily the middle of May sees the spring fire season virtually over,
but May and June of this year represented the worst season in the past
fifteen years. The entire field force was taxed to the limit and had it not
been for the organization functioning in many of the counties in the Coastal
Plains section, it is common knowledge that the greater portion of the tim-berlands
in some counties would have been completely destroyed.
Fires burned for a period of a month or two in many instances ; crews
worked on them continuously day and night but due to the nature of the
inflammable material it was impossible to extinguish them completely. At
the close of June a very serious condition continued and fires were burning
in many counties in the Coastal Plains where normally such areas would be
under several inches of water.
The following table shows the forest fire statistics for the protected areas
for the past four years.
47
FOREST FIRE STATISTICS FOR PROTECTED AREAS BY FISCAL YEARS
Area Under Protection—Acres
Number of Fires by Classes:
A—Under M acre
B
—
],i to 10 acres ' -
C—10 to 100 acres
D—101 to 500 acres
E—Over 500 acres
Total
Causes of Fires:
Brush Burning
Hunters, Fishermen, Campers
Railroads
Lumbering
I ncendiary
Smokers
Lightning
Miscellaneous
Unknown
Total
Area Burned—Acres:
Merchantable Timber
Reproduction
Open Grass Land
Total
Average Area Per Fire, Acres
Per Cent of Protected Area Burned..
Damage:
Merchantable Timber
Reproduction
Other
Total
Average Damage Per Fire
Total Fire Fighting Costs
Average Fire Fighting Costs Per Fire
Law Enforcement:
Number of Prosecutions :
Number of Convictions
Fines and Costs
Responsible Parties .Apprehended
:
Number of Parties Billed
Number Making Payment
Amount Received
5,804,343
40
498
720
106
15
1,379
227
131
47
16
362
333
8
130
125
14 , 263
47 , 599
6,671
68,533
50
1-2%
32,031
82,607
14,836
$ 129,474
$ 94
8,479
6.15
52
33
545
144
92
419
29
882
1,386
371
78
2,746
371
694
52
65
427
652
10
234
241
2,746
82,170
157,132
19,075
258,377
94
4.0%
214,863
290,825
54,717
$ 560,405
$ 204
22 , 509
8.20
57
44
666
184
89
519
1934-35
9,862,289
54
901
903
159
16
2,033
495
195
29
35
396
632
7
150
94
2,033
23,442
57,186
15,443
96,071
47
0.9%
$ 50,055
122,292
19,979
$ 192,326
$ 95
7,566
3.72
56
45
566
149
112
524
1935-36
13,634,000
206
1,953
1,540
283
64
4,046
758
384
98
112
872
1,265
26
414
117
4,046
48,597
129,487
64,125
242,209
60
1.8%
111,649
251,549
26,656
389,854
96
15,388
3.80
110
85
878
252
194
997
48
FOREST FIRE STATISTICS FOR PROTECTED AREAS BY FISCAL YEARS—Continued
1932-33 1933-34 1934-35 1935-36
Cost Paid by Landowners:
Number of Parties Billed
Number Making Payment
Amount Received
Warden Activities:
Number of Hours Worked
Miles Traveled—Car, Foot, Horse
Number of Notices Posted
Number of People Interviewed
Number of Sawmills Inspected
Number of Schools and Meetings Visited
55,724
129,883
2,443
33,190
259
671
80,279
195,075
1,126
29,037
287
277
98,419
247,897
2,308
64,647
624
434
227,126
523,694
3,610
103,150
933
473
Comparison of Protected and Unprotected Areas
Area
Protected
by
State
Area
Unprotected
Total
Needing
State
Protection
Forest Lands in North Carolina—Acres:
1934 Calendar Year 10,053,950
13,634.000
2,034
2,423
182,250
115,733
1.81%
0.85%
$ 370,389
198,611
10,514,050
6,934,000
604
461
632,687
357 , 569
6.02%
5.16%
.11,417,792
618,588
20 , 568 , 000
1935 Calendar Year 20,568,000
Number of Fires Reported:
1934 Calendar Year - -- -- 2,638
1935 Calendar Year 2,884
Area Burned—Acres:
1934 Calendar Year --- - -- 814,937
1935 Calendar Year 473,302
Per Cent of Total Forest Area Burned:
1934 Calendar Year 3.47%
1935 Calendar Year 2.30%
Damage:
1934 Calendar Year -. -- .- $1,788,181
1935 Calendar Year - - 817,199
The above figures do not include 978,000 acres of National Forest and
Park lands, Indian lands and the Fort Bragg Military Reservation pro-tected
directly by the Federal Government, as of 6-30-36.
County Fire Control Activities: The usual number of wardens' meetings
was held throughout the different districts, at which time the wardens were
coached in fire control methods and plans laid for the following fire seasons.
In October of 1934, a conference of the District Foresters and District
Rangers of the State Forest Service, together with the Director and Camp
Superintendents of the ECW, was held. At this meeting a definite un-derstanding,
in writing, was prepared as to the responsibility in fire con-trol
of the District Foresters, District Rangers, County Wardens and the
Project Superintendent of ECW. This meeting was primarily to have a
49
clearer understanding among all concerned as to the division of responsi-bility
in order that no misunderstanding might occur. The result of this
meeting has been very satisfactory.
A conference of District Foresters and District Rangers was called in
June, 1935, and assembled at the Mount Mitchell Game Refuge, where a
week was spent in setting up standards for work and inter-district prob-lems
discussed. Representatives of the U. S. Forest Service were present
at this meeting and cooperation between the State and Federal Forest
Service was discussed and a program mapped out. At this meeting special
stress was laid on the necessity of law enforcement and the proper pro-cedure
in such.
Conclusion: At the beginning of this biennium it became clearly evident
that if we were to provide adequate fire protection in and upon cooperating
units, changes in policy were necessary. Prime among such was the need
of having County Wardens devote their entire time to their work and in
order to do this it was necessary to pay them a wage that would permit of
such. Consequently, the salaries of the County Wardens were increased
to the point where their entire time could be demanded. In order to accom-plish
this in some counties it was necessary to have the appropriation in-creased
sufficiently to care for such increase in salary. The counties re-sponded
favorably. This enabled us to obtain satisfactory County Wardens
who are now devoting their entire time to the work. These Wardens are
paid salaries ranging from $60 to $150 per month, the average being around
$100.
The old idea of having Deputy Wardens distributed promiscuously
throughout the counties was done away with. They were not efficient, with
the result that we unnecessarily lost acreage. These Deputy Wardens have
been largely replaced with organized fire crews distributed where needed
and paid a small monthly wage during such periods. The crews remain at
a tower under the direction of a District Warden subject to fire call day
and night. Regardless of how much fire-fighting time they put in, their
wage remains the same; and the sooner the fire is out the sooner they are
able to rest. This automatically reduces the area burned as they are not
paid by the hour and, therefore, have no interest in working any longer
than is absolutely necessary.
Year-long towermen, stationed at the towers, give us not only better
detection, but stabilize the organization.
In order to prevent a breakdown in the morale of the warden organiza-tion
and seasonal employees, CCC crews are only called upon where it
is fully determined that the regular warden organization cannot handle a
fire because of its size, etc.
Equipment of County Wardens with fire-fighting trucks, fully equipped,
has been another factor in improving the work. The erection of numerous
additional towers and the tying-in of these towers with telephones have
contributed materially to quick detection and the prevention of lost motion
in fire control.
There is a very noted improvement in the attitude of the average citizen
toward fire control over that which existed a few years ago. The residents
of the State are becoming more "Forest Minded." It is much more easy
50
to secure heavy fines and even road sentences for fire law violations than it
was in the past, indicating that the courts are back of the work.
The re-districting of the State to bring under one supervisory head simi-lar
timber types and climatic and g-eographical conditions has enabled us to
build up by forest districts a more perfect organization; and through the
retention of supervisory personnel familiar with conditions in their district
noticeable progress has been made.
It is our aim eventually to make each and every cooperating county a fire
control unit within itself wherein each County Warden will concentrate his
efforts toward fire control in a manner that will carry to the residents of
that county the necessity of each and every individual assuming a personal
responsibility for not only the protection of his own lands from fire, but
also the lands of his neighbors.
No extensive use of a forestry educational program has been made dur-ing
this biennium. This was partly due to a lack of funds, but chiefly to
the fact that this educational work is best presented through personal con-tact
with individuals rather than mass approach as is done in the case of
lectures, motion pictures, etc.
The press of the State has cooperated 100 per cent in carrying the mes-sage
to the news-reading public. The members of the last legislature, we
feel, had a far better knowledge of the problems of fire control than has
been evidenced in the past and it was through their knowledge of the needs
of this department that we were able to secure additional funds and pas-sage
of the law that was so beneficial in blocking up the work within the
State.
STATE FOREST NURSERY
Ten years' experience in operating the State Forest Nursery on a mini-mum
appropriation has brought out a number of requirements which seem
to be essential to successful operation, which means sufficient economical
production of suitable tree species to restore, as soon as practicable, profit-able
forest growth to North Carolina's eroded and devastated idle land, both
privately and publicly owned.
The object of the State Forest Nursery, therefore, is the production eco-nomically
of such forest planting stock as may be annually required by
public and private landowners of the State for reforestation of waste and
denuded lands. The chief factors in this program are (1) sufficient suitable
land for the production of the needed species, (2) competent management
and supervision, (3) an adequate supply of labor, seed, fertilizer and equip-ment,
and (4) favorable weather conditions.
Land: With increasing demand for seedlings and the occupation of a
still greater amount of the fourteen-acre tract south of the road near Clay-ton
by buildings, there has been insufficient land to afford necessary rota-tion
of crops; and with no opportunity of thus adding humus to the soil,
growth of the seedlings has been greatly retarded.
In February, 1935, efforts were renewed to secure additional space at the
nursery. The remaining portion of the Pool (Ashley Home) tract, from
which the original purchases were cut off in 1927 and 1930, consisted of
51
nearly 100 acres north of and across Highway No. 70 from the present site.
This tract had become the property of the State Banking Department.
The experiences of the summer of 1935 emphasized the serious need for
sufficient space to allow for rotation of crops, so negotiations were renewed
in October when this property was offered to the Department for $3,250
cash. The Budget again declined to allow the $1,000 item in the next year's
budget to be used but suggested a transfer of funds from one of the other
divisions of the Department, which proved impracticable. However, in De-cember
arrangements were made for the purchase of two-thirds of the tract
and a lease under option to purchase for the other one-third, and a deed
for 63.2 acres comprising the eastern portion of the tract was executed and
turned over to the Department in January, 1936. At the same time a lease
with option to purchase before August 1 was entered into and the whole
property came under the administration of the Department. Cowpeas were
sown on both parts of the addition and black walnut, black locust, mimosa
and longleaf were sown in rows, with no water supply in sight. Results
with the tree seed were far from satisfactory but the peas promise a good
crop of humus. Deed for the remaining one-third, 33.3 acres, on the western
side of this area was finally secured in July, 1936. The cost of the land for
the nursery property has been as follows:
January, 1928 9.28 acres $1,200
July, 1931 4.9 acres 500
January, 1936 62.3 acres 2,000
July, 1936 33.3 acres 1,500
109.78 acres $5,200
Cost of abstract, fees, etc 100
$5,300
This is an average cost per acre for the 110 acres of some $48, considered
a very fair price in view of its frontage on Highway U. S. 70 of some 1120
feet. With its restoration to full fertility this property will steadily in-crease
in value. Already fifteen acres are growing a crop of cowpeas which
will greatly improve the quality of the soil. The labor, supplied through
the cooperation of the Federal Government, has been adequate to the needs,
though the time and effort consumed in transporting men daily from the
CCC camp at Manchester has considerably increased the actual cost of
production. The establishment of a side camp from that camp, following
the removal of the Durham camp, made available a number of men who can
put in full time on the nursery and with the additional barracks room now
available some fifty men are housed on the nursery property, though not
more than half of these can be made available for nursery work. P. W.
Allred, ECW foreman, a man with considerable forestry training, has
been in charge of the side camp, while Addie Pace has continued to have
charge of the State property as nurseryman, resident in the cottage.
Distribution: Weather conditions were normal during the 1934-35 grow-ing
season but the winter and spring of 1936, with its wet and severe
weather, interfered with and often prevented working the land until the
middle of April. Excessive drought following that, has seriously affected
52
the crop to be distributed next winter. The drain on the one small well by
the increased personnel of the camp seriously interfered with the use of
water on the seed beds and authorization for an additional supply through
ECW, though greatly appreciated, did not come in time to remedy this
lack.
TABLE I
DISTRIBUTION OF FOREST TREE SEEDLINGS BY SPECIES, 1932-1936
1932-33 1933-34 1934-35 1935-36
10.
11.
12.
13.
Loblolly Pine--
Shortleaf Pine.
Longleaf Pine..
Slash Pine
Black Locust..
Tulip Poplar..
Black Walnut.
Red Gum
Miscellaneous.
Mimosa
Maritime Pine.
Cypress
Ash
93,006
66,381
19,790
11,331
25,400
22,700
8,846
2,450
2,578
258,392
61,202
24,152
31,152
34,652
4,621
9,445
6,952
5,040
392,175
28,725
57,325
30
510,107
3,216
10,906
2,065,900
45,850
471,913
34,300
296,065
118,176
9,035
5,985
4,325
1,417
17,650
11,050
2,110
5,650
Totals. 242,482 435,608 1,018,444 3,073,465
The table above shows the total number of forest tree seedlings grown in
the nursery near Clayton and distributed to farmers and other landowners
and agencies for forest planting. Approximate cost price is charged, except
to schools and other public agencies, which under certain conditions have
been supplied some seedlings free or at reduced prices.
TABLE II
DISTRIBUTION OF FOREST SEEDLINGS BY CLASS OF COOPERATORS, 1934-1936
Class of Cooperators
Biennium, 1934-36
Number
Cooperators
Number
Trees
Total Period, 1926-36
Number
Cooperators
Number
Trees
Farmers
Companies
Schools
State
Boy Scouts ^..
4-H Clubs, Home and County Agents-
Municipalities
Soil Conservation Service
Resettlement Administration
E. C. W. Dare County
Fort Story, Virginia
Illinois
U. S. Forest Service
133
6
9
346,720
92,927
137,364
2,526
43
4
55,550
21,000
,032,040
793,200
71,050
39,000
500
500,040
560
39
238
50
30
,403
6
1,307,964
280,014
547,685
317,632
14,680
116,621
105,674
2,032,040
793,200
71,060
39,000
600
500,040
Totals. 203 4,091,917 3,326* 6,126,000
*JJitkny duplioatioDB in these.
53
The above table shows the distribution of seedlings for the two years of
the biennium and for the ten-year period since the establishment of a State
Forest Nursery. Cooperation with the several Federal agencies interested
in reforestation enabled us to place practically all plantable stock. A con-siderable
amount of small stock, which under ordinary conditions would
have been discarded, was made use of in this way. The lack of State lands
under the care of this Department on which to plant any surplus stock pre-vented
one of the usual ways of disposing of such surplus.
As a slight recognition of the Federal contribution to the operation of
the nursery, half a million seedlings were delivered free to the United States
Forest Service for planting on the national forest in South Carolina, while
reductions were made in the prices to the Resettlement Administration and
the Soil Conservation Service.
The Soil Conservation Service was the State's largest customer and
although this Federal agency has established three forest tree nurseries in
North Carolina, so far these have been unable to supply their own demand.
The practice of requiring landowners to purchase seedlings from the De-partment
where more than a small acreage is to be planted by the Soil
Conservation Service, has developed. This plan, if adhered to, will en-courage
State production and will give the landowner an added interest in
his plantation.
The Resettlement Administration secured nearly 800,000 seedlings, half
of which were planted on their Sandhills and Bladen County projects.
Cooperation with the ECW has secured many improvements to the
nursery in addition to the six buildings listed on page 75 of the report of
the State Director. A ditch along the south boundary was blasted out in
July, 1935, and a power line has been laid from Clayton, which now fur-nishes
light to the side camp and power to the repair garage.
Diseases: The wilt disease which attacked the black locust seedlings in
the summer of 1934 proved less threatening the following summer and it
has been practically non-existent during the summer of 1936. The white
grubs, however, continued as a very serious menace to the pine seedlings
through 1935, and no practicable plan was worked out to control them,
although the United States Bureau of Entomology has continued its studies
of this pest in the North and South Carolina State Forest Nurseries. It is,
therefore, surprising that during the early summer of 1936 practically no
grub injury has been experienced. The longleaf seedlings, most of which
were sown in rows, have suffered destructively from drought and subsequent
beating rains which covered the central buds with sand.
At the request of the Southern Forest Experiment Station seed supplied
by that Station was sown in a "study of seed sources", but the lateness of
the sowing and the drought allowed so few seed to come up that the results
are worthless.
The important effect the weather has had on the nursery in 1936, sug-gested
the advisability of securing some actual data on rainfall. Request
was made of the United States Weather Bureau for a rain gauge and Lee
A. Denson, Director at Raleigh, installed a rain gauge June 25, 1936, so
that records on rainfall observed by the nurseryman will now form part of
our planting records.
54
STATE PARKS
In the establishment of a well ordered system of State Parks several im-portant
factors must be given due consideration. One of the primary rea-sons
for establishing State Parks is the preservation of areas of outstand-ing
natural beauty or interest. It follows then that areas to be eligible for
consideration as State Parks must have natural beauty or interest of suffi-ciently
high standard to attract not only people in the immediate vicinity
of the area but people from distant parts of the State. Unless an area has
such quality of natural beauty, it has not the status of a State Park and
if established as such, will sooner or later become merely a county or rural
municipal park.
But, while people go to State Parks for the enjoyment of natural beauty,
they also go for recreation; and, as a general rule, in establishing State
Parks in a state where very few if any State Parks exist, the physical ability
of the area to lend itself to the provision of various types of recreation,
such as swimming, boating, hiking, camping, picnicking and similar activi-ties,
must be given careful consideration. People want and need outdoor
recreation of the type provided by State Parks and it would be unwise, in-deed,
to overlook or fail to place sufficient importance on this factor. The
parks should not be too far removed from large urban centers of popula-tion.
In beginning a State Park system, these three basic considerations
must be kept firmly in mind: (1) Natural beauty or interest; (2) recrea-tional
possibilities; (3) geographical location.
A complete State Park system would probably contain a variety of areas.
The various types and the number of each would depend, among other
things, upon the scenic beauties of the State as a whole; the recreational
facilities available from such other sources as National Parks, National
Forests, State Forests, County and Municipal Parks, State Parks in ad-joining
states, private recreational areas, as well as the present population
of the State and its probable rate of increase. Some of the various types
of State Parks (or Recreational Areas) are: 1. State Parks established
primarily because they have sufficient natural beauty and recreational pos-sibilities,
2. State Parks established because they have unusual natural
beauty and are established for its preservation. 3. State Parks established
because they have sufficient historic or scientific value to be of State-wide
interest. 4. State Parks established to preserve typical natural scenery
and to afford recreation to large centers of population. These types are
listed in the order in which at present it seems wise to set them up, taking
into consideration the physical aspects and the population of North Caro-lina.
It is much less important to establish State Parks solely for recrea-tion
(especially since the creation of parks for the purpose is, or should be,
in part by municipalities and counties) than to select those areas which
have both natural beauty and recreational possibilities. It is likewise im-portant
to preserve for all time areas of great natural beauty and inspiring
scenery, even if they are very simply developed and provide mainly for
passive recreation and the enjoyment of nature. In establishing State
Parks it is important that the desired areas be secured as soon as possible
even if they are held undeveloped for years. It was, for instance, more
costly and difficult to secure Mount Mitchell in 1915 than it would have
55
been twenty-five years earlier and it will be much more costly and difficult
to secure State Park areas twenty-five years hence than it is now.
The average person wants to know what can be done at State Parks,
what general or special interest have they for the public? The State Parks
so far established in North Carolina (with the possible exception of Fort
Macon which is primarily historical in interest) are of the class which com-bines
natural beauty with opportuni