The Coastland Times

WHEN FUR PRICES RISE
A FORTUNE IN MUSKRATS
FOR HATTERAS ISLAND

Ephraim O'Neal, a well known Hatteras fisherman is much intrigued with a report on the number of Nutria or Russian rats reported on Hatteras Island, and which heretofore have been considered of little value. He says quotations have come this week showing these furs quoted at $15 to $35 each. Now he says is the time to make money. "It being estimated are 10,000 to 12,000 of these animals loose on the island, and take an average price of $20 per fur, 10,000 of them would bring in $200,000," he says. "Looks like we will do well to keep the little devils for future income."

Mr. O'Neal is much concerned about the probability of calling striped bass game fish, which might prove a great injustice, since there are so few records of any of them responding to the lure of surfcasters. It was reported last week that a Norfolk man had caught two of them at Kill Devil Hills. "The only other time I recall any of them caught on the hook was the report of Raymond Bennett of Buxton that he had landed four of them. Since our commercial fishing crews have made as much as $10,000 from catches of these fish along the ocean side in a season from November to April, it is more important to let home folks have them in order to make a living."

Regarding the Russian rats, Mr. O'Neal recalls his brother Amos shipped away the fur from one some years ago, and couldn't get anything for it. But now quotations are rumored around Hatteras running up to $35 each.