A drawing of the structure of a pound net.

Winter 2002

Pound Netting: Rich Fishing Tradition Seeing Decline

As Mike Peele guides his old shad boat through the middle of the Pamlico Sound, the water is so smooth he sets the automatic pilot. Standing toward one side of the boat, Peele spots a group of white poles and moves back to the steering station to slow the engine. With one hand on his knee and the other on the steering wheel, he maneuvers the boat into the middle of a huge maze of fishing net.

Grasses sway at Hammocks Beach State Park.

Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder: Hammocks Beach State Park

The story of a place — especially if that place is Hammocks Beach State Park — is often much more subjective. Its telling is colored by the perspective and experience of each storyteller.

LIFELONG LESSONS: Coastal Themes Resonate

Growing up on the Outer Banks, Marc Basnight learned a bit about weathering storms — like the time his mother, Cora Mae, explained about hurricanes.

MARITIME MORSELS: Shucking Oysters, Clams Like a Pro

During the winter months, oysters taste their finest. However, it requires a little work to shuck them. At the annual Seafood Quality and Safety Workshop for environmental health specialists at Pine Knoll Shores, Wayne Mobley demonstrated how to shuck oysters and clams like a pro.

Researchers Conduct Breakthrough Studies on Fish Antibiotics

Although the hybrid striped bass is less than an inch long, it is a "potent" source of antibiotics," according to Noga, professor at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

NATURALIST’S NOTEBOOK: Field Notes from Bear Island

When it comes to learning about the coast, there's no substitute for experience. So it is that North Carolina State University students embark upon Bear Island at Hammocks Beach State Park for a first-hand view of the environment.