Abstract:
For most of the 20th-century the highest fishing catches in North Carolina were menhaden. Now only two menhaden plants remain on the Atlantic Coast, one at Beaufort, the other at Reedville, VA. A proposal by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission would restrict menhaden fishing to one mile from the shore. Jule Wheatly, owner of the Beaufort plant, said such a restriction would force him to close his plant since 75 percent of the fish he processes is caught within a mile of shore.