State

The Cape Lookout Country North Carolina's deepest inlet is Beaufort, kept dredged to a depth of 30 feel. The picture by Hugh Morton shows an ocean vessel entering the inlet where Bogue Banks terminate at Fort Macon and heading for the state port terminal. Good bottom fishing here, and nice wading on the little beach for children. The deepest entry is the mouth of the Cape Fear. At Cape Lookout, bcst-bchavcd of our three capes, the North Carolina coast commits itself to a new direc¬ tion. It starts an enormous and sym¬ metrical curve which follows the com¬ pass from west by north, to west, to southwest — the arc ending at Cape Fear and embracing Onslow- Bay. It has few of the navigational advantages wc imagine a bay should have, though lying partly in the lee of Cape Look¬ out. This gives Onslow Bay some pro¬ tection from the northeast storms of winter, and exposes it well to the southwest summer winds. For the land-bound traveler, this is a marvelous route to big waters. It is equipped by nature and man for enjoyment — with convenient wa¬ terways. bridges, docks, piers, accom¬ modations. and recreation areas and points of interest. The boatman and angler will find no better service any¬ where in North Carolina. Boats and guides arc on every hand; and boat service is excellent. Morehead City Coming in from New Bern, the traveler emerges from Croatan Na¬ tional Forest, passes through the out¬ skirts of the Marine Air Base at Cherry Point, and enters Morehead City (pop. 5,144). The highway map doesn’t show it, but the city is built on a narrow point of land between Bogue Sound and Calico Creek, the latter named for a shipwreck which strewed calico over its shores. Bogue Sound Bogue Sound is quickly reached by turning to the right down any cross street. It is a well-utilized piece of wa¬ ter; at its widest. 4 miles. On its main¬ land bank, which is high, a handsome residential section runs for a couple of miles. Both natives and summer residents like boating, and transient pleasure craft usually tarry. Hotels, courts, good restaurants, fishing fleet. Atlantic Beach A new bridge runs across at the nar¬ rowest place (about half a mile) to Atlantic Beach, a large, well-estab¬ lished and growing resort. Hotels, cot¬ tages, courts, fishing pier, amusement center. This is on Bogue Banks, usually about a quarter to half a mile wide. The beach lies cast and west, and its surf is mild. Behind the beach in most places the land descends to salt marshes on the sound, though there is some firm sound-side property. Much of Bogue Banks is covered with shrubs and some trees, especially the west end. At its cast tip is Fort Macon State Park, built around the best military antique in this state — a sunken for¬ tress complete with moat, patio and dungeons, built in 1 828-36, and cap¬ tured by the Yankees in 1862. It has a museum and is a major point of interest. A public beach with bath house, picnic facilities and concession stand is near by. At the fort, walk on down to Beaufort Inlet, a good place to see North Carolina's deepest and most useful inlet. Big ships come by within shouting distance, bound for the Morc- hcad-Bcaufort port, seen to the north. Beaufort Inlet Beaufort Inlet was once called Old Topsail (there’s a “new" Old Topsail in Pender County) and has always been a good entry. However, the har¬ bor had no links with the back coun¬ try for a long time, and the port’s usefulness was limited. Before the Civil War, an attempt was made to connect Beaufort and New Bern via the Ncuse. A canal was dug from Clubfoot Creek (called Cut- foot on old maps) to connect with Harlowe Creek, but it was a failure. The ditch still has water in it, but it is not used. Opening of the waterway down Adams Creek to Core Creek, thence to Newport River, and thence south¬ ward, and especially the coming of the Mullet Line Railway in 1859, gave the inlet its potential. In the last few years millions have been spent improving the inlet and the port terminal. The entry now carries 30 feet of water, and boats can march right up to the docks without benefit of tugs. The port’s traffic is steadily increasing; tobacco is the main export and petroleum products the principal import. (455,702 tons in 1952; 607,- 519 tons 1953.) Fishing Port To most visitors, Beaufort Inlet is the road to fishing adventures. Out of it every likely morning in the sum¬ mer pours a numerous fleet of sport- fishing cruisers, bound for the wrecks around which swarm tropical game fish, for the cape, or for the Gulf Stream, 35-land miles away. Bogue Banks The other — west — end of Atlan¬ tic Beach runs 30 miles to Bogue THE STATE, July 3. 1954 29