The Recreational in South Carolina: The Little River Story

Educational Report 19

Prepared by Victor G. Burrell The Recreational Fishery in South Carolina: The Little River Story

Prepared by

Victor G. Burrell

Graphic design and layout by Carrie Gilbert and Karen Swanson

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Marine Resources Division Marine Resources Research Institute P.O. Box 12559 Charleston, South Carolina 29422-2559

Table of Contents

Introduction 3 Important Events in Development of Little River Recreational Fishery 3 The People and Their Boats II Fleet Over the Years 24 The Grounds 25 The Catch Over the Years 27 Fishing and Navigational Gear 29 Off Season Employment 30 The Fishermen : 31 Epilogue 32 ,I Acknowledgments 32 Personal Communications 33 Bibliography 34 r V. G. Burrell, Jr.: The Recreational Fishery in Ltute River, South Carolina

front. This became a very popular site (Gragg 1994)(Lewis 1988)1 and in 1925 Lucian Bryan built a ho- When the men and boys at Little Introduction tel.' This has turned outto be the only River began to take people fishing can water front hotel ever located at Little not be dated exactly, but probably it Little River was the firsr perma- River and has always been referred began in the early I920s. River par- nent settlement in Horry County and to as "The Hotel." ties were the first to be carried out dates back to the late 1600s. It is situ- As Little River became a vacation Some were taken in boats rowed by ated on the North Carolina - South spot, other industry was dying out. In the guide. The fanner crew boat for Carolina border and has always had a 1918 the boiler at the Hammer lum- the Hammer Lumber Company was strong maritime tradition. First as a ber mill which was the largest in the used by Lawrence and Jerome Long source of for Indian tribes of area blew-up killing five people to carry river parties in the '20s2 the region and then for subsequent (Berry 1977). It eventually closed Deep sea parties were first orga- settlers. Next it was an important ter- putting many out of work. In the early nized by Bob and Les High, Liston minus for sailing ships bringing in 20's the oyster factory closed prob- Thomas and probably Rob Mintz. supplies for the surrounding area, ably due to poor markets and short Victor Cox joined the group shortly chiefly from Wilmington, N.C. in the supply of cheap oysters and labor. thereafter. Bob High's first boat was 1800s and early 1900s. Lumber and The cotton gin closed about this time the Eugenia and he began carrying naval stores were the major exports as did the factory (Horry Herald people to the blackfish banks in 1923.' during this era, with some cotton and 1922). The naval store industry suf- An article in the Horry Herald gives oysters being shipped around the tum fered as demand for their products fell an account of a party's catch, fishing of the century. A fish factory also off also, limiting job opportunities out of Little River in 1925 (Harry operated out of Little River in the further. About this time some of the Herald 1925). Several of the early early ]900s, processing the catch of local men began to carry people fish- crafts were open boats that had no the purse seiner Prince (Floyd 1996, ing, first in row boats and then in shelter for the fishermen. They were Gragg 1994, Lewis 1988 a.b.c.d, U.S. power boats, probably due to some powered by one or two cylinder gas Dept Commerce 1920). extent to the drop off in industry, but engines of very low horsepower.t-'" People from surrounding commu- also as a result of increased presence Many boats came into the fishery in nities came to Little River to fish and of vacationers. This was the first or- the late '20s and through the' 30s, but enjoy other water activities such as ganized offshore they were owned and operated by a swimming and sightseeing. Some in South Carolina where a group of small group of captains.' camped on the bluff along the water boats carried people fishing for a fee Important Events in Development of Little River Recreational Fishery

Many people were first attracted to the South Carolina coast prior to World War I by haul seine located near Futch's Beach, which is now East Cherry Grove Beach (C.B. Berry, 1996a). The earliest operators were Mr. Lucian Bryan and a Mr. Nixon.' The development of My ItIe Beach in the teens and early twenties by Mr. Simeon Chapin and John T Woodside probably led to people seeking an- other pastime as they became aware of the coast. Certainly early realtors The Little River water front in 1948, looking south. The docks are to the left. Note noted the availability of recreational the unpaved road. (from an old postcard courtesy of V Kinlaw) fishing nearby as they spoke to pro-

3 . ,

Y. G. Burrell, Jr.: The Recreational Fishery in Little River, South Carolina Y. G. Burrell, Jr.: The Recreational Fishery in Little River. South Carolina spective buyers (Lewis I988a). And Long. She was longer, finer, and pret- Mars Bluff, S.c. near Florence to pick as mentioned earlier by 1923 enough tier than any boat yet to carry parties. up campers for a session at the YMCA people were visiting Little River that She carried 49 people for $1.00 per Camp Nixon located at Cherry Grove a few local boatmen began to offer head.' This greatly increased the fame Beach. This further enhanced her fishing trips to the nearshore Black- of Little River as customers extolled reputation. The Nightingale in the late 1930" fish banks. the virtues of her after returning home. On 18 May 1941, the Nightingale, Captain Rob Mintz at the wheel. This As more people came to the area Tn the late '30s the Joesephine was a 48 foot twin engine yacht converted was prior to refurbishment in 1940 and demand increased, better boats hired to go up the Pee Dee River to to a headboat blew up killing seven which included replacement of engines. were sought to appeal to potential cus- (photo courtesy Mrs. T V. Bessent) tomers so the open boats soon were replaced with those having canopies and cabins for protection from sun and weather. The marine head (toilet) also more than likely was a further crea- ture comfort introduced into the fish- ery in the late '20s.' The intracoastal waterway was begun in the late '20s and completed of 39 passengers. The Nightingale in 1936 (Lewis 1988c). Construction owned and piloted by Douglas of this project led to more people Sebastian had recently been repow- coming into the area to work. These ered with Buick automobile engines laborers from other places needed and fuel problems led to the explo- housing and board. Places catering sion' The Edward captained by Vic- to them also were available to fisher- tor S. Cox and the Cadet captained men and vacationers. One boarding by Rob Mintz rescued most ofthe pas- house was operated by Mrs. Samuel sengers and all of the crew. (Charles- G. Vereen (Mrs. Kate). Mr. Sam ton News and Courier 1941, Charles- Vereen also provided rental row boats ton Evening Post 1941). A group of for fishermen. Hugh McGinn rented The Josephine looking forward. This photo was taken in the mid 1930s. (copy of owned by Lawrence Long) soldiers on the Cadet went into the his skiffs to fishermen and to the water and were responsible for sav- Corps of Engineers to use to survey ing many of the people. The crew, for the waterway when they began none of whom was hurt, was Capt. their work in the area. He later Sebastian, Donnie Mintz, engineer, worked for the Corps as a survey party Leroy Mintz (12 years old at the time) member.' The waterway when com- mate.' Word of this tragedy led to a pleted in 1936 also changed the tidal great drop-off in the number of head flow through the Little River Inlet, boat fishermen this last summer be- People waiting under the oaks for the fishing boats to return from fishing trips. Some seemingly to make it's changes in lo- I fore World War IT. Accidents such as came from the nearby beaches to see the boats and catches, some came to pick up cation more erratic (Megivern 1996). .... family who went out on the boats and others were waiting around to arrange a trip these finally in the mid 1950s led to When an inlet is in the process of much more stringent licensing and themselves. (photo from the Dunnegan Collection) moving it is often shallower until the safety regulations required for party inlet stabilizes and this makes it dif- boats and captains (U.S. Dept. Com- ficult for all boats, especially those merce 1956). boom at first. The boats had to be ing picked up and more boats began with deeper drafts. This restricted the World War IT closed the recre- replaced. Capt. Rob Mintz rebuilt the to be added to the fleet. Mr. Luther types of boats that could efficiently ational fishery as no boats were al- Cadet as the Sea Rambler and used Wilson brought in the Helen Jean and be employed in the fishery until some lowed to take parties offshore, only her for shrimping and Victor S. Cox the Johnnie Jr. Mary Juel who had improvements were made to stabilize shrimpers were permitted to work in- brought in a sailboat the Ray Stubbs bought the hotel and its docks ac- the inlet. shore off Little River' to carty parties' Lawrence Long sold quired the Martha Ann.':' About Another big event in the fishery The end of World War II allowed the Josephine shortly after the war.' 1947 Frank Juel bought the first of was the advent of the Josephine in Boysfrom the YMCA Camp Nixon with blackjish caught on the Josephine. party fishing to resume. However, As life returned to normal and people several 63 foot war surplus air sea the early '30s, captained by Lawrence Mid 19305. (copy a/photo owned by Lawrence Long) offshore recreational fishing did not had more time for vacations the fish- rescue boats. Vivian Besssent in part-

4 5 V. G. Burrell, Jr.: The Recreational Fishery in Little River: South Carolina V. G. Burrell, Jr.: The Recreational Fishery in Little Rives; South Carolina

modernize the fleet. On 15 October 1954, Hurricane Hazel, packing 115 mph winds, hit Little River head on. A tidal surge exceeding 15 feet wrecked docks, boats and shore facilities. No lives were lost, but everyone had to scramble to get ready for the next sea- son (Taylor 1954). Only two boats were serviceable after the storm (Myrtle Beach News I954a). This led Theftrst Helen Jean prior to J 954. At this time she was 55 to further upgrading of the boats and feet long. After Hurricane Hazel she was lengthened to 65 feet. (postcard courtesy of 1/ Kinlaw) crowds looking to go fishing were back in force in 1955. About this time the U.S. Congress The Hobby owned by VG Burrell captained by Victor S. Cox. This was an example passed the Merchant Marine Act of of gasoline powered boats that after the J 956 law changes became charter boats 1956. The "Ray Bill" as it was called, restricted to carrying 6 or less passengers. (photo from the author) placed more safety requirements on operators and vessels carrying people for hire. The rules applying to ves- sels carrying over six people were so strict it made it almost impossible for a gasoline powered boat to meet them (U.S. Dept. Commerce 1956). This led most of the smaller boats at Little River to become charter boats carry- ing six or less people. for pelagic gamefish then became a more important component of recreational fishing. In the mid '50s, Ralph Ellis tried to get all the party boat owners Vivan Bessents 'first Rascal. She was a World War JJ air sea rescue boat converted to join together to mount a campaign for . (photo from the Dunnegan Collection) to promote business. He succeeded for a short while and many more fish- ing customers were attracted to Little River," Sometime in the mid-to-late fifties, boats specifically constructed for A promotional postcard sponsored by {he Little River improvement Association. (card charter and party work began to come courtesy of Mrs. T 1/ Bessent) into the fleet. Prior to this nearly all, ifnot all, of the boats had seen prior service as tugs, shrimp boats, yachts, nership with Mettler Vereen also ac- also was used for moonlight cruises. military craft and other types of work quired another. These boats were Mettler Vereen bought the Ocean boats.':" good seaboats, moderately fast, pow- Queen, a 104 ft. war surplus craft, in In the early-to-mid fifties Frank ered with 671 GM diesels, had shal- 1952. Both of these boats had to Juel initiated "Gulf-stream" fishing low drafts, and a lot of deck space for schedule departures to take into ac- on the snapper-grouper banks. Sev- fishermen.' Sam Gardner of Myrtle count tidal height on the inlet bar as eral boats became involved.' Some Beach brought in a 84 foot air rescue they drew two or three feet more than would fish the blackfish banks on a boat named the Carolina Queen. She other boats at the time. Surplus mili- day trip and then after cleaning up and Sam Gardner s Ocean Queen in the early 1950s. This was an 84 foot air sea rescue boat convertedfor carried blackfish fishing parties and tary radios and other gear helped a short nap by the crew, head back recreational fishing (photo from the Dunnegan Collection)

6 7 V. G. Burrell, Jr.: The Recreational Fishery in Little River: South Carolina V. G. Burrell, Jr.: The Recreational Fishel)! in Little River, South Carolina

• and ran the boat for the owners." These were modern, well fitted out vessels and this put pressure on the regular charter boat owners to up- grade their boats and services to com- pete. So the older, less appealing, low cost boats were slowly replaced by the more costly, higher tech, speedier fi- berglass manufactured vessels. Arthur Smith of country singing fame initiated a King Mackerel Tour- nament in 1977 held at Little River. This annual event became highly suc- cessful by bringing in a large number of boats and anglers. Families and friends accompanying participants added to the positive economic im- pact in the area. This tournament was Frank Juel and a party after returning/rom an overnight rip to the Gu(fStream. Frank is at the extreme right. (photo from the Dunnegan Collection) expanded to Murrells Inlet in 1983 and Charleston in 1992. While just at Little River, most fishermen came off shore for a 20 to 24 hour excur- ocean outing for the whole family for the Little River recreational fish- from South and North Carolina (about sion"'? Frank Juel bought an alumi- a reasonable sum, and the catch was ery'.?·8 More people sought out the 90%). By 1982, as many as 888 boats num hull crew boat from oil interests not too important because lodging recreational fishing opportunities at participated. All the Little River char- in the Gulf of Mexico in the mid-six- facilities often did not provide cook- Little River to satisfy their hankering ter boats took part in the competition ties. This was named the Hurricane. but only made up four percent of the ing or means for keeping fresh caught for a good catch of fish than anywhere The author and party with a catch of several hundred Spanish fishermen involved. The majority of She was powered with two V-12 GM. fish. Boats were fast enough to get to else in S.c. Boats and facilities oper- mackerel in 1954. (photo/rom the author) diesels and cruised at about 22 knots. and from the inshore reefs in a half- ated at full capacity from Memorial the participants used their own boats This permitted one-day trips to the day and allow enough fishing time to Day to Labor Day. or were guests on other boats. The offshore fishing grounds.' satisfy most fishermen. Once the jet- Trailerable outboard powered tournament was discontinued in 1993 A very significant thing happened ties were in place, in 1983, boats boats were becoming quite common (Smith and Moore, 1980, Moore in the recreational fishery in the late could cross the bar at any time of day. in the sixties. Boats constructed of 1984). Most of the party boat opera- sixties. Frank Juel initiated hal f-day A family could have an outing with- fiberglass reinforced resin made it tors at Little River welcomed the tour- fishing trips on the Tradewinds to the out taking up an entire day and com- possible to use heavier, more power- nament in the beginning but became inshore blackfish banks. This was a ing back worn out from a full day at ful outboard engines and move them disenchanted as it began to attract a 55 foot boat that carried about 45 sea. Gradually the half-day trips came on trailers up and down the highway more professional clientele. Local people at $6.00 per person. Captained to dominate the blackfish party busi- without shaking the boat transom captains felt highly financed groups by Joe Elliott, she was fast at about ness. loose. Many of these boats began to had an unfair advantage over the 20 knots and could leave the docks Trolling or "charter" boats were use Little River inlet to get into the strictly amateurs who were the initial and be fishing in an hour'·' This ac- generally concentrating on Spanish ocean. Others fished in the river. The competitors in the tournament.' 1,12,13 tually was the beginning of the end mackerel, blue fish, king mackerel, outboard component was a consider- Concern about the dangers of the of the dominance of "meat" fishermen dolphin, some cobia, bonita, and a few ation of the fishery when concerns Little River "bar" probably dated back in the blackfish party business and little tuna up to the early sixties. Boats about condition of the fish stocks to the time the first sailing vessels really probably was a beginning of and captains who wintered in Florida, arose. crossed it, as it was shallow, change- change in attitude of most all sport taking a cue from the sport fishery Private sportfishing boats were able and subject to a real wicked fol- fishermen who thought that you had there, began around 1960 to rig out docked at Vereens Marina about four lowing sea (C. Berry, 1996b). An to catch enough to partly offset your for sai Ifish and other large pelagics miles above Little River waterfront, early victim was the steamer Sand- expenses. Half-day parties were ac- and the fishery then included big as well as a couple at Little River. ers. It went aground and was lost in cepted for several reasons including game fishing boats along with the "in- These boats on occasion took parties Victor E. Cox and a catch of Spanish and king 1907 (Lewis, 1988c, Megivern 1996). those mentioned above. Families va- shore" trolling boats. The period to help pay upkeep and provide more mackerel caught trolling inshore off Little River Ralph Ellis, a one time postmaster, cationing at the beach could enjoy an 1955 to 1975 marked the heyday of income for captains who maintained 801; 1959. (photo courtesy of Mrs. VE. Cox) legislator, real estate entrepreneur and

8 9 V. G. Burrell, Jr.: The Recreational Fishery in Lillie River, South Carolina V. G. Burrell, Jr.: The Recreational FisJ7eJYin Little River. South Carolina

recreational fisheries (Jacobson The People and Their Boats was powered by a one cylinder 1978). Catches of mackerel, , Palmer engine. Bob and Junior and the snapper-grouper complex Capt. Bob High had a succession McCorsley bought the Acey Horton which includes black sea bass have of boats - starting with the above men- around this time and used her as a various restrictions such as minimum tioned Eugenia. He purchased a party boat. Bob replaced the Acey size limits, allowable catch per per- double ender aptly named the Horton with the David K. This boat son per day and annual total allow- Doubleender. She was powered by had a shrimper hull and was powered -.-~-...... able catch by recreational fisheries. a Minimus 8 horsepower make or by a 30 hp, three cylinder Bridgeport These regulations are continually be- break engine.' This type of engine had engine. Next came the Clyde Jr. ing updated and in 1987 charter boats no reverse gear and was stopped or which was a Harker Island built boat Head boats waiting for the tide to rise enoughfor them to cross Little River Bar, /9505. were required by an amendment to the backed down by cutting off the igni- (photofrom the Dunnegan Collection) (U.S. Treasury Dept 1945). She was coastal migratory pelagic resources tion until the fly wheel had rocked first powered with a straight eight plan to have permits to fish in the back after making its last forward Buick automobile engine and then EEZ. A red drum managment plan revolution and then connecting the with a 6 cylinder Chrysler Crowns prohibits possession ofthis species in ignition back so it started running in Just before the war he ran the Eva or from the EEZ (Smith Atl Fish Mgt. reverse. This operation took quite a Mae for Hugh McGinn and after Council, 1997). Concern for the re- deft touch and sometimes caused a WWlJ he bought the Molly a twin sources that brought about this act, pretty abrupt stop when the reverse screw boat. He kept her a short time were felt by many sport fishermen. didn't catch and the boat rammed the and sold her to Vivian Bessent.'> They, realizing the pressure on dock' His last boat was the Bennie Lane. gamefish species, have made tag and Bob also in the 1920s owned the At first he and Donnie Mintz owned release a rule on many of their fish- Hammer, the former crew boat for hertogether and they shrimped in the ing trips (Davy, 1994). Some tourna- the lumber mill In 1935 he bought fall and carried parties in the summer. ments are using photographic evi- the Mud Turtle, a 27 ft. motor sailer Bob bought out Donnie and eventu- dence to record released catches which was fished in the river by Olin ally she was used entirely as a party (Anon, 1994). Williamson. It was called the Mud boat. She was 45 ft. long and pow- The Little River )ellies completed in 1983 by the u.s. Army Corps a/Engineers. This The state of South Carolina, with allowed deep draft vessels to transit the bar on any tide. (photo from the author) Turtle because at low tide it's slip ered with a Chrysler Crown. Bob re- the passage of the marine Recre- ebbed out and she lay in the mud. It tired in 19665 ational Fisheries Conservation and Management Act of 1991, required all always champion of Little River and inlet. After this was resolved the about 33 miles out and to the south boats carrying fishing parties for hire it's fishing community started trying project became a reality." This al- (Bell 1996, Myatt 1978). Theses to purchase charter vessel permits. to get the Federal Government to con- lowed deeper draft boats to use the small reef areas are not used to a great This legislation also required persons LITTLE RlY-E~ struct jetties at the inlet before World inlet pretty much at any tidal stage and extent by head boats and charter boats, fishing in saltwater from private boats ~ s.c. War II. He recalled correspondence also kept the channel in one place but they have served to attract people i-,- to purchase an annual marine recre- with Senator Olin B. Johnson in 1942 (C.B. Berry, I996b, Megivern 1996). to the Little River area and provided I ational fishing stamp (S.C. Dept. in which the Senator said there was Artificial reefs that added to the enhanced fishing for smaller boats Natural Resources 1996). Salt waters hardly anyway that the federal gov- fish habitat were constructed in the fishing out of Little River inlet (Liao in the Little River area are defined as ernment would come up with the es- waters off Little River Inlet. The first and Cupka 1979 Cupka 1974). the waterways seaward of the intra- timated one million dollars to fund the of these was begun in 1975 as a joint The United States Congress passed coastal waterway bridge at Nixons project. Ralph persisted and finally venture between the SC Wildlife & the Fisheries Conservation and Man- Crossroads. The state has also passed during his time as a state senator, he Marine Resources Department (now agement Act of 1976 to address the laws which place size and catch lim- and others convinced those in Wash- the Department of Natural Resources) problem of declining fishery re- its on fish caught or landed within salt ington that the jetties should be con- and the North Carolina Division of sources. This law established an ex- waters under state jurisdiction and structed. They were completed in Marine Fisheries. Little River Reef clusive economic zone (EEZ) which which provide that certain federal 1983, some forty years after Ralph's was started with used automobile and gave the federal govermnent control laws pertaining to fish caught in fed- dealings with Senator Johnson, at a truck tires, with other types of mate- of all organic resources lying in wa- eral waters adjacent to the S.C. coast cost of25 million dollars. A big prob- rial added later. It is very close in- ters beyond the state three mile limit are also the law within areas under lem in getting the jetty project started shore in 20 -30 ft. of water. Two other to 200 miles offshore. This has re- state jurisdiction. stemmed from the fact that the North reefs have been located in the area, sulted in development of a series of Bob High with a party in the late /9505. Photos of Bob are rare. His son, Edward, Carolina-South Carolina border had one about II miles from the mouth of management plans which among lost all a/his in a hurricane related flood in the early I990s. (photo/rom the always been considered Little River the inlet and the other further off at other things place catch limits on the Dunnegan Collection)

10 11 V. G. Burrell, Jr.: The Recreational Fishery in Little River. South Carolina V. G Burrell, Jr.: The Recreational Fishel)! in Little River; South Carolina

The particulars of his boats are not licited customers for head boats. Some told them to head north and they This last boat was sold to his uncle well known, but he owned or oper- great stories were told about the prom- would see the big boats on their right. Donnie Mintz. "Winkie" Mintz, the ated the Pearl, the Water Lily, the ises made to prospective clients. Vic- He did not mention the fact that he third son, never did get into the rec- Loaf Along and for many years the tor Earl Cox said of his father: "One was referring to the US Navy "moth- reational fishery other than help out Edward which he bought in 1925. day the Hobby will come around the ball" merchant fleet anchored at on party boats. He went into the Coast Capt. Victor called the Edward an bend in the river with the moon fly- Wilmington, NC some 55 miles dis- Guard, taught in the Technical Col- open built boat. That meant she leaked ing from the outriggers -Then you'll tant.' lege system, and became a Baptist considerably. Jennings Vereen, one of know I finally caught what daddy Some ladies were admiring the minister. His only commercial boat the mates, said he had pumped theAt- promised." Another story told on them very large live oak tree that dominates was a shrimper.":" lantic Ocean through her seven times. had it that a group sent on the Rascal the river front at the end of Mineola Leroy, the second son, was most It was said that the mate, Red would not put their lines in the water Avenue and observed it must be very involved in the fishery. He mated on Fulwood, sometimes slept on the boat when the fishing banks were reached. old. Captain Rob very seriously re- party boats from the time he was ten with his foot in the bilge and when When asked why they weren't fish- marked to them, "It is, I was just a years old. He was a striker on the ill the water reached his foot he would ing - they said the man that sold them boy when it was planted." fated Nightingale when she blew up wake up and pump her out. Bob their tickets had promised thatthe fish Captain Rob's father was a pioneer in 1941 and by some accounts is cred-

10 Captain Rob Mintz and sons Bobby in the area, fishing haul ited with saving a number of the pas- Victor Sloane Cox talking to High's son, Edward, walked by Capt. would jump in the boat. prospective customers on the "Hill" at Victor painting the Edward one day Captain Rob Mintz was another of (Left], Leroy (right), 1954. Both seines on the beach and in the river sengers (Charleston Evening Post followed Rob's footsteps and became Little River in the mid I950s. (photo and Capt. Victor sang out a ditty - " A the very first head boat operators. He and Captain Rob himself ran a haul 1941,Charleston News and Courier party boat operators. (photo courtesy of from the author) little powder and a little paint will ran boats for various people until seine fishery at Cherry Grove and 1941). He makes little of being a hero. Mrs. Leroy Mintz) make people think what she is - is 1937 when he bought his first sea Waties Island. Captain Rob's sons He, as a teenager, ran a private boat what she ain't".' The Edward was goi ng party boat The Cadet. She was also followed in his footsteps. Lacy, Chickasaw, for John Barrier the about 48 ft. long and gas powered about 46-48 ft. long, powered by a ready had a career as a tug boat and a the eldest, worked on tugs and president of Pilot Life Insurance Co. Bob High was a very crusty char- with a 35 hp Lathrop gasoline engine Buick automobile engine. Captain shrimper. Her speed was a breathtak- dredges for awhile, but also operated He shrimped the Sea Rambler for his acter and seldom backed offfrom any (U.S. Treasury Dept 1945). He initi- Rob paid about $200 for her. She al- ing 5 or 6 miles per hour, which was private yachts for business people; family right after World War 11and situation. One time one of his parties, ated moon light cruises with the Ed- pretty much par for the course at this one was owned by ex-Senator Jim then ran a charter boat, the Mark which had been drinking rather ward and he operated her until he time. The Cadet was put on the hill Waddell's father. In the '50s, he Twain, for A.D. Hinson. For a few heavily, refused to pay him for the went back into the service in WWIL' during World War II and had to be owned the party boats Victory and years he worked on boats in Florida, trip. Capt. Bob merely tied up to the After the war, Capt. Victor ran a rebuilt after the war. She was re- Bob Dan.' One of Lacey's sons, then came back to carry parties in inland waterway marker across from 50 foot sailboat, the Ray Stubbs for named the Sea Ram bier and used as Danny, works as relief captain on the 1961. He then operated the Carolina the dock and called to someone on the about two years. This boat belonged a shrimp boat. She was sold in 1947. Pride of the Carolinas. He has at King for Frank Juel, taking parties to shore to getthe sheriff - while he kept to his brother-in-law, James Arnold of Rob lost an eye in 1947 and did the one time or another worked on the the blackfish banks and also to the the party at bay with a sock loaded Southport, N.C.(U.S. Treasury Dept rest of his party work in the river' Hurricane both for Frank Juel and Gulf Stream. He bought the Touch- with fish sinkers. The party paid up 1945, 1955)4 Then for a period he Captain Mintz also had several Steve Speros. He first mated on the down a 43 foot air sea rescue boat in and he brought them to shore.':' worked the hill, that is, he met cars river boats. One was a 26 footer with Rascal for Vivian Bessent when he 1962 and carried parties on her until 4 l4 During Hurricane Hazel, Bob took and booked parties for some of the a canopy called the "Pop Pop" be- was 12 years 0Id. . Lacy's other son 1969. He shrimped on his own boat the Bennie Lane out into the river headboats. In 1951 he began to run cause of the sound of the one cylin- Bobby, is in the party business run- the 75 foot Tim Allen in Florida until right into the teeth of the storm. He the Hobby which was my boat. He der Palmer "make or break" engine. ning the Sea Screamer which is a 73 1977. He then got back into the party saved his boat, but he said he prom- ran her until his son Victor Earl Cox His last boat from this time until he foot speed boat carrying people on business in 1980 when he bought the ised the Lord that he would never do took over in the late 50's. The Hobby became ill was the Little Joe. She sight seeing excursions in the water- Windjammer from his brother, that again. Asked ifhe was scared, he was41 X 12X2.5feet. She was pow- was about 30-32 ft long and powered way and off-shore along the Grand Bobby. She was 50 feet long and said "I wore one life preserver and ered with a Chrysler Crown and then by a Continental Red Wing engine. Strand beaches. He started out sneak- powered by an 871 GM. He renamed was standing on another." a Chrysler Ace. Captain Rob passed away in 1957. ing aboard his father's boat when he her the Touchdown. In 1982 he Victor Sloan Cox was another who In his later years Capt. Victor S. Captain Rob had a keen sense of was J 0 or J 1years old. He workd as a bought his uncle Donnie Mintz's Bon had a succession of boats. Some he Cox ran river boats from time to time humor, and many of his jokes or mate on the Helen Jean and ran boats Jon. He fished her until she burned owned and some he managed or also. They were approximately 24 to pranks are recalled by those who for the Speros for eight years."!" in 1991. He now has his own marine fished for others. Victor had an early 26 feet long, and powered by out- knew him. One day a group of ap- Rob's youngest, Bobby Mintz, had surveying company and looks back acquaintance with boats at Little boards. Some of these boats were the parently very prosperous and selfim- several boats one of which was the fondly on his coming up in the party River. One of his early jobs was op- Beatrice, the Evelyn and the Dixie portant men drove up to the water- Folly ITT renamed the Bob Dan when boat fishery' erating a steam launch to bring sail- Queen. Capt. Cox sold the Beatrice front and demanded to know where he sold it to brother Lacy. He ran Lawrence Long was the very last ing vessels across the bar and dock to lE. Lockamy. Capt. Victor S. Cox Captain Rob Mintz and daughter-in- the big boats were. Captain Rob di- parties at Murrells Inlet for a while of the early party boat skippers. He low, Mrs. Leroy Mintz, in 1954. (photo them at the oyster factory. This was and Capt. Rob Mintz at one time so- rected them back to Highway J 7 and and one of his boats was the Bon Jon. began in the mid '20s by taking river before he entered service in WWP courtesy of Mrs. Leroy Mintz)

12 13 V. G. Burrell, Jr.: The Recreational Fishery in Little River. South Carolina V. G. Burrell. Jr.: The Recreational Fishery in Little River. South Carolina

parties with his brother Jerome, on the traps for black sea bass in the ing on the Edward and the Cadet. Hammer, the crew boat of the Ham- late fall and winter. Now he more or He also worked on the Eva Mae when mer brothers lumber mill. She was less specializes in shark fishing par- Bill Bessent owned her. Bill and 26 feet long and powered by a 7 hp ties and has a thriving business. He David bought the Eva Mae from Bill Minimus gasoline engine. They started this in the early eighties and Bessent in the early 1950s. She was would charge what they could get sometimes makes two trips a day. His used mostly for party fishing, but a from one dollar up for a trip. His best latest Black Fish is about 45 ft long couple of times she was used for remembered boat was the Josephine.' and powered by a 600 hp Detroit Die- shrimping in the fall. They fished her She was 60x 15x4 feet and powered sel. Another son, Billy Long, oper- until they went to work for Vance by a 30 hp Fairbanks Morse diesel. ates the Billy Boy, a trolling boat and Kinlaw in the middle fifties, Bill on His uncle owned the boat at first and headboat that is also used for com- the Helen Jean and David on the let Lawrence run it for half the profit. mercial fishing. Ricky Long runs the Johnnie Jr." After Bill's death, • Lawrence said he made a lotofmoney Donble R and Tommy the Captain David took over the Helen .lean and for his share the first year which was Vick. A grandson, Larry's son Chris, ran her even after the Kinlaws sold in the early thirties. It carried 49 pas- also operates a charter/commercial her in the early' 80s. He retired from ---'!!I!!--- ...... -- sengers at $1 each. Lawrence adver- vessel the Longway.12,13.16,17 boat operating in 1985 and now oper- tised that he went with one or 49 at Bill and David Clemons need to ates a successful tackle shop that ca- $1 per head, and Billy John Vereen be addressed together as they worked ters to the fishing fleet." recalls going one day with one pay- very closely with one another. Bill The Eva Mae needs special men- ing fare when he got $2 as mate." This the older brother tirst mated on the tion because of her interesting in- did not happen often and Lawrence, Cadet for Rob Mintz. He was on a volvement with several people. Hugh Leroy Mintz s Bon Jon which he bought fiom his uncle Donnie Mintz in the I 980s. after buying the boat from his uncle familiarization trip to take over as McGinn bought her in 1940 for $450. (photo courtesy oj Leroy Mintz) for $400,captained the best known captain of the Cadet when she came Donnie Mintz shrimped her one year party boat at Little River. Other cap- to the aid of the Nightingale when and made Hugh back the money he tains on the shore spoke of the she blew up.' David started out mat- paid for her. Bob High fished her the Josephine as the Queen Mary of the next year and sent Hugh a goodly . "" Little River fleet and she was known sum. Bill Bessent bought her next for throughout North and South Carolina $750 and kept her until he sold her to • as being bigger and better than any- the Clemons for $15001,18 They thing afloat.' The Josephine was sold fished her until they went to work for in 1946 to be used as a freight boat.' Vance Kinlaw. She probably caught Captain Long next ran the Helen Jean more Spanish mackerel than any boat for Vance Kinlaw' and then the Joy, fishing out of Little River, Bill and a trolling boat, for Frank Juel." Tnthe David brought in the top catch more late '50s he built a trolling boat, the often than nearly all the other opera- Cheryl Ann. It was 45 ft long and tors put together. For a long time they powered by a GM 671. He fished her held the one day record for bringing until 1979 when he retired. The in 565 Spanish mackerel. The Eva Cheryl Ann served as a tloating part Mae sank at her dock and disinte- of Wayne Henderson's restaurant on grated after Bill and David went to the waterfront unti I she burned and work on the big boats." was put on the hill in 1997. Captain Donnie Mintz was another early Long passed in 1998 at 93 years of party boat operator coming into the age. fishery in the late thirties after a stint Lawrence instilled the love of the Larry Long's Black Fish. He charters her during the summer to recreational on the dredge Tampa, Donnie first fishermen and pots Jar black sea bass in the off season. (photo from the author) water in his sons and now the Long worked as a mate on boats, one of name is still prominent on the Little which was the ill fated Nightingale." River waterfront. Larry, the eldest, He ran shrimp boats also, operating has appropriately named his boats the Larry Long's granddaughter, Christina, the Eva Mae for Hugh McGinn in the and friend with a shark caught on his Black Fish. He carries charter par- mid-forties. I He had the Mayflower boat the Black Fish. (photo courtesy ol ties in the summer and fall and he built right after the war and then after Larry Long)

14 15 V. G. Burrell, Jr.: The Recreational Fishery in Lillie River; Sontlt Carolina V. G. Burrell, Jr.: The Recreational Fishel)! in Little River: South Carolina

Frank Juel sfirst Hurricane with the Myrtle Beach Beauty Queen contestants in the mid 1950s. (photo from the Dunnegan Collection)

~ -~--- -~...

Captain Donnie Mintz. left. and Captain Vivian Bessent. right, and an unidentified crewmember with a grouper caught on the Rascal, 1953. (photo courtesy Mrs, Max 0/ Caproin Danny Juel captains the Vereen) Pride of the Carolinas a 90foot

~- .. .. v modern head boat that carries :A" [II':> o:7.!'.i -~-.:."'-- -- __ '. • •• Jle ...... parties to the Black Fish Banks and selling her bought and fished the vantage of the name recognition he so close he was sure he was sinking. .1 ~- =--=-. -~E\r.a .., .to. 1:, ' II ~-._, __ ~ _ ..... •• "•• ~ ..... - .~ -- • I _ .. __ ~ ....-:. the Gulf Stream. This is the only shrimper Charlotte with Clancy had built up for the first Bon Jon. She He had stopped and opened the en- head boar operating from Little 1A lewis. After this boat was sold he was 55 feet long and powered by two gine hatch to see how high the water River docks in 1999. (photo frons went in with Bob High to purchase GM871 s. This was his last boat and was in the bilge. We kidded Donnie and advertising brochure) the Bennie Lane. He soon sold out he sold it to his nephew Leroy Mintz.' about that many times. Max Vereen, to Bob.' His next boat was a shrimper, For a couple of years Donnie ran the Donnie's son-in-law, ran my boat for the Betty Ann, after selling her he Rascal for Vivian Bessent on Sundays a couple of years before going into purchased the Les from Adrian High and I ran the Les for him. At that time the oyster shucking business with his in the mid fifties'.' She was 43 feet Donnie's son-in-law "Max" Vereen father-in-law. long and powered with a Chrysler was running my boat, the Hobby, full Frank Juel was synonymous with Crown engine. He carried parties in time, deep sea fishing at Little River from the summer and shrimped her in the One story I recall about Donnie the late forties into the eighties fall. At this time the party business was when we were going down the (Dunnegan 1994). He first became was mostly concentrated between river to go to sea. I was ahead of involved in fishing as a mate on the Chris Juel standing on the stern of Memorial Day and Labor Day, so it Donnie in my boat and he was a Josephine prior to service in the Navy the Hurricane JJ with the catch 0/ made sense to shrimp in the off sea- couple of hundred yards behind me during World War 118 When he re- black sea bass displayedjor son if a boat could be readily con- in the Les, when he suddenly stopped turned from the service he operated potential customers watching/rom verted from one type of business to dead in the water. I started slowing the Martha Ann, a 45 foot head boat the "Hill". mid 1950s. (photo from the other. down to see ifhe was having trouble, purchased by his wi fe who operated • the Dunnegan Collection) Donnie's next boat was the Bon but shortly he got back underway. the hotel at that time. In 1947, the Jon which he got in the early nine- After we crossed the bar I called him Juels bought a war surplus 63ft air "'" ~~~ teen sixties. She was 50 feet long and on the radio to find out what had hap- sea rescue boat. They paid $2,500 for ~=:::-...::=...-:::~~-~=-=-~-~~ ~ powered with a GM671. He traded pened. He informed me that he had it, but had to spend quite a sum in the Bon Jon to his nephew Bobby just gotten a new pair of bifocal those days to reconfigure it for party Mintz for the Summer Song. He re- glasses the day before and when he fishing. Its original power plants were named her the Bon Jon to take ad- looked over the side, the water was Hall Scotts that used 100 octane gas

16 17 V. G. Burrell, Jr.: The Recreational Fishery in Little Rivet; South Carolina V. G Burrell, Jr.: The Recreational Fishery in Lillie River. South Carolina

and gave ita cruising speed of 40 graphs contained herein were taken linas. This is a 90 ft aluminum hull knots. These were replaced with Gray as a part of this effort (Anon 1994). head boat. She fishes on the black- Marine 671 s after one year because Frank sold out to Gus Speros in fish banks and in the Gulf Stream." of the price and difficulty of getting 1976." Since that time he has run Frank's father, Chris, also was in- 100 octane fuel. The hulls were very boats for the Speros and owns a sport volved in the sportfishery. He bought strong because of double planking, the fisherman the Tempest which he a small shrimp boat, the Mildred inner ply on a bias with the outer charters for trolling inshore and for Mary and for several years fished for which ran fore and aft. Frank felt he Gulfstream parties. shrimp and then after World War 11 needed even more strength so he also A story told about about one ofthe he began to use her for party fishing. had a keel placed in her. This was people Frank had hired as a mate con- In the early '50s he fished the Hurri- the first Hurricane. cerns the trip back from winter work cane II for Frank. After a stint of this The Juels bought two more 63 ft in Florida. The fellow was not adept he then went back to the Mildred air sea rescue boats. One became the at steering by the compass so Frank Mary and used her as a trolling boat. Hurricane II and was run by Chris pointed him out a star to steer toward. She was eventually sold to Tommy Vance and Helen Kinlaw. 1954, Juel, Frank's father. The other was Sometime later, after steering in Long.8.16 operated the Riverside Tavernfrom the Sporty and was captained by Billy circles for an hour or so, the fellow Chris was a colorful character. A 1937 to 1990. They booked parties on Brown' Frank also owned the Ocean woke Frank up and asked him to point World War I veteran, he first came to The Riverside Tavern in the early I 950s. Ice. bait,, groceries and the lIelen Jean and Johnnie Jr. as well King for a while. She was 90 ft long, him out another star as he had passed South Carolina after leaving the ser- as rented wooden rowboats. (photo sundries were sold to fishermen going out on the boats. (postcard courtesy of Vance very narrow of beam , and drew about the first one. vice, but then went back to his home Kinlmv) courtesy of Mrs. Leroy Mintz) 6 \1,- 7 feet. Once at sea she was sur- Frank's son Danny has followed state, Nebraska. He stayed for a prisingly fast considering she was in his father's footsteps and is active month or so and returned to Little powered by two Cummings diesels of in the party boat business. He ran the River. Asked why he came back, he treat his customers' cows while de- occurrence to have an impromptu Vance and Helen closed the Riv- only 165 hp. She was captained by 85 foot air sea rescue boat Hurricane said the prettiest women and the best livering the mail.' country music concert at the Tavern erside Tavern in 1990. It remained Leroy Mintz." About 1950 Frank for a while and also worked on boats "likker" was in the South. He was a Mr. Luther Wilson at one time was with Vance, Jerome Long, Victor Cox, closed until 1997. It appeared that no initiated Gulf Stream parties and the in the Bahamas. From 1989 to 1994 veterinarian and for a while this pro- involved in the beach seine fishery at and others entertaining the river front one was willing to put in the long Hurricane and the Ocean King were he ran the Captain Juelll. He is now vided his livelihood. He got ajob car- Cherry Grove Beach in the 1930s. He crowd on Sunday afternoons. hours and have the patience to take the first to carry them. They would the captain of the Pride of the Caro- rying the mail and he was known to bought a shrimp boat prior to World Lawrence Long first fished the on operating it until Steve Speros leave the dock at 7 to 8pm, run for 4 war II, the Ella Dee. She was 40-42 Helen Jean. She was built as a bought it in 1997. The movie "Lolita" to 5 hours, fish until 10 or 11 am the ft long and was operated by George shrimp boat and was 55 feet long and was filmed in and around the Tavern next day, and return to the dock at Brooks. She carried fishing parties powered by a GM 671. Olin Carter in 19957 about 4 pm, The fare was $15 per on occasion. After the war in 1947 was the next captain, and then Bill Vivian Bessent was an early en- head for the first couple of years and he bought the Helen Jean and the Clemons. She was lengthened to 65 trant to the party boat business. He then went up to $25' Johnnie Jr. These boats and all sub- feet after Hurricane Hazel in 1954. worked on dredges in Florida and The next two boats the J uels had sequent boats Mr. Wilson had were The Johnnie Jr was about46-48 feet South America before buying the built. They were 65 ft long specifi- managed by Vance Kinlaw, his son- long and operated first by Will Blake Molly from Bob High in 19485.10.20.21 cally designed for headboat fishing. in-law. Vance and Helen, his wife, and then David Clemons. The cost He ran her in the summer for a couple One was very broad beamed and had opened and operated the Riverside of the Johnnie Jr was about $2,000 of years before giving up a winter job three engines. Frank then got an 85 Tavern in 1937 where they sold ice, in 1947. A second Johnnie Jr was on the dredge. He bought one of the foot air sea rescue boat that had been drinks, fishing supplies, sundries, and built in 1971 at about a cost of8-10 63 ft air sea rescue boats in 1949 or used to make the film "PT I09." It basic groceries. Parties on the Helen thousand dollars. She was operated 1950 in partnership with Mettler had two GMV 12s. Looking for more Jean and Johnnie Jr were booked by Joe Elliott and then Leonard Vereen, and after converting her for speed he bought a 77 foot aluminum here. Prior to that Vance had worked Elliott. The second Helen Jean was party boat work he became a full time hull vessel with two V12s. This ves- on the dredge Tampa. They also built in 1974 at a cost of 18-20 thou- member ofthe recreational fishery at sel cruised at 22 knots, thus allowing rented bateaus to people for river fish- sand dollars. She was 70x20x5 feet Little River (U .S. Dept Treasury the Gulf Stream parties to be a one ing. The Riverside Tavern had rooms and powered by twin GM 671 s. Cap- 1955). She was named the Rascal day trip. Just about all of Frank's for rent at one dollar per night in the tain David Clemons ran her. Both and he fished her on the nearshore boats were named Hurricane and this late '40s and early '50s. It was also boats were sold in 1983. Vance de- blackfish banks and later offshore. He gave him good name recognition' He ) the site for square dances with local signed the Slow Poke and had her bought the New Rascal, another 63 hired Claude Dunnegan in the late musicians and later other dancing built by Jerome Long. She was 24 ft ft air sea rescue boat, in 1961-62 again Captain Chris Juel discussing a shark with a '50s and early '60s to do promotional ) with music supplied by the "Juke long and used for river parties and on in partnership with Mettler Vereen. Fiend, late 1950s. (photo courtesy of Fronk Juel) work for him and many of the photo- Box." In the 1950s it was a common occasion, a black fish trip.'

18 19 ;

V. G Burrell, Jr.: The Recreational Fishery in Little River. South Carolina V. G Burrell, Jr.: The Recreational Fis/7eJY in Little River; South Carolina

Early river boat captains other than those that carried deep sea parties were Jerome Long, Lawrence's brother, and J'B. Lockamy. Captain Jerome had worked with Capt. Lawrence Long very early as a river boat man, probably helping him run the Hammer for Bob High." After WWII he owned the Rueben and ran her until he retired. She was a 24 ft outboard powered bateau.'? Captain lB. Lockamy carried par- ties prior to WWII in open row boats. The New Rascal in the late I960s. Owned by Vivian Bessent then sold to Joe Elliot Rowing them four or five miles down in 1975. (postcard courtesy of Mrs. TV Bessent) river and back, sometimes gettingjust $3 for the boat load. After the war he bought the Beatrice from Captain He bought out Mettler in 1963 and refitted for party fishing. James Ivey Victor S. Cox and fished her until he The new Johnnie Jr. in the mid J 970s. She was owned and booked by the continued to fish her until he sold out Stone ran her along with a Captain Kin/aws. (postcard courtesy of Vance Kin/mv) retired. Captain Lockamy was a man to Joe Elliott in 1975. He and Mettler Miles and Bill Copeland. She was of simple tastes. Never known to also built the Blue Heron restaurant docked beside the draw bridge across curse and never owned a car or tele- on the waterfront and for several years the waterway from Bellamy's Cross vision set.i" His most violent expres- hired people to run it or rented it Roads, but parties were solicited at 10 20 sion was "Great Dow". One day the ou1. . Vivian took his religion seri- Little River. She was relocated at Beatrice got caught under the dock ously and in his later years did not Atlantic Beach, N.C. after an attempt and was swamped when the tide rose. fish on Sunday. Donnie Mintz ran the to carry parties from Gardner's Ocean When Captain J.B., came down and Rascal on Sunday and I ran Donnie's Plaza Pier at Myrtle Beach did not saw her awash his only observation boat, the Lcs. work out Sam had earlier owned an was, "Great Dow, look at the Bill Bessent was another of the 85 foot yacht the Patricia that car- Beatrice. " early boat men at Little River. He ried parties on occasion. worked on several boats and was at Mettler Vereen (Samuel Mettler) one time the captain of the Nightin- brought in the largest of the head boats gale.' He fished the shrimper Char- up to this time when he purchased the lotte for Clarence McCorsley before 104 foot Ocean Queen in the mid fif- it was sold to Donnie Mintz and ties. She was another war surplus Clancy Lewis. He bought the Eva craft. She was docked at Vereen's Mae from Hugh McGinn and fished Marina but also stopped to pick up her until he sold it to the Clemons passengers at a dock at Little River. brothers in 1952.18 He then purchased Her deep draft made it necessary to the MarseUa and kept her until the have a flexible fishing schedule to late fifties when he replaced her with accomodate the tide on the river bar. the Betty Rae. These boats were On occasion low tide and rough seas around 42-45 ft long, powered by forced her to come back through the Chrysler crown engines, and used inlet at Southport, North Carolina and chiefly for trolling inshore. Bill also run down the Intracoastal Waterway had the contract to maintain bouys to Little River. The Ocean Queen Captain Vivian Bessent and a party that he took out on his boat the Rascal, mid /9505. and lights at Little River for several was struck and sunk by a freighter in Vivian is secondfrom the right. (photo front the Dunnegan Collection) years. Charleston, SC's harbor on 16 No- Sam Gardner of Myrtle Beach vember 1965 as she was being repo- Captains .I.B. Lockamy, left, and Rob brought the Carolina Queen into the sitioned to Florida for the winter. She Mintz, 1954. Two of the early river party boat fishery in the early 1950s. sank wi th the loss of one person boat party men. (photo courtesy of Mrs. She was a 84 foot war surplus hull (Bowles 1965, Workman 1965). Leroy Mintz)

20 21 V G. Burrell, Jr.: The Recreational Fishery in Little River. SOIlTh Carolina V G Burrell, Jr.: The Recreational Fishery in Little River: South Carolina

Jimmy Stevens spent most of his his own boat since then. It is a 32 ft winter. He ran parties now and then clone; and Norman Bligh on the after World War II and catching 950 ing for Captain Frank Juel and in 1976 time fishing out of Murrells Inlet, fiberglass trolling boat powered by a on Mr. Russell's boat, the Russwood Carol Annes Bounty (Moore 1977, pounds in a day with help from one the Speros bought out Frank. Steve Calabash, and various parts of 325 hp Catapillar engine. She is (Myrtle Beach News 1954b). She Moore et al 1980, Moore et al 1985). other man. He also caught 9000 operated the Scuha and the Hurri- Florida. He was however part of the named the Lucky Strike and fishes was a 52 foot Huckins Fairfonn Flyer. Nearly all boys growing up around pounds on one trip, potting from his cane himself for a while. They ex- Little River scene on several occa- from a marina located at the foot of Captain Vereen retired as operator of the waterfront worked as mates on the shrimp boat the Chippewa in the panded their business buying the sions. He ran the Martha Ann for the old highway 9 Intracoastal Water- a Charleston Harbor pilot boat.' boats. Many of them ended up oper- early 1960s.' The Chippewa inciden- Thunderbird II from John Frick and the Juels and also the Sea Buster and way bridge." Les High, Bob's brother was one ating boats but some went on to other tally was one of the boats taken over in 1990 the Captain Jim from Jimmie Little Shrimp around 1948. He Pat Bellamy got into the recre- of the first to carry parties offshore, things. Some of those who did not by the Government in World War II. Stevens. They also bought Captain owned several boats named the ational fishery in the early fifties. He but he died young and was active for end up as captains were Willie Todd, She had two 50 calibre machine guns Jim's Marina at Calabash, NC from Bonita and on occasion he fished first owned the Elselma, a yacht that only a short while. His son Adrian Herschel Williamson, Buddy Dennis, mounted on her and a rack for depth Capt. Stevens. They now operate ves- them from Little River docks." He was used as a trolling boat (Myrtle owned the Les and during the 1950s Marion Cox, Jennings Vereen, Ronnie charges. Hugh bought her in 1946. sels from Vereen's marina, Calabash, bought an 85 footer, a Bonita, from Beach News 1954b).4 He named his he ran parties in the summer and Nobles, Bobby Todd, "Termite" He made some remarkable catches and Southport, NC. Gus passed away Montauk, NY in 1980. She was fished subsequent boats the Ron Tom after shrimped in the winter. He sold his Williamson, William "Pompano" with her and finally sold her when he in 1996 and Steve now operates the from both Calabash and Little River. his sons. He had a trolling boat and boat to Donnie Mintz and moved to Elliot, "BucJ..)''' Elliot, Corbin "Spi- retired in 1971 to Frank Juel along business. He maintains a ticketing She was powered by three 671 De- then a head boat. They were docked Florida, where he ran shrimp boats der" Elliot, Joe Livingston, Michael with the fishing facility. office at Little River. The Hurricane troit diesels giving her a speed of al- at the Ron Tom Marina which was until he retired.':' Brown, Thomas Gore, "Winkie" One great story about Hugh ap- Fleet as it is now identified offers all most 15 miles per hour. It took her about two miles up river from the Robby Scarborough now operates Mintz, Johnnie McCorsley, Russell peared in the Myrtle Beach Sun News types of water related opportunities about an hour to reach the fishing town docks at Little River. Pat also the Sun dancer. He carries up to 20 Carter, L.D. Tyler, Jimmy Bessent, (Berry I996c). Hugh was fishing off including half-day inshore trips, Gulf banks lying 10 miles off the bar, thus ran a boat repair facility using a Travel people to the black fish banks or to Tommy Bessent, George Bessent, McClellanville and hit a real, large stream parties, trolling trips, shark making her ideal for half-day fishing Lift to haul boats. Pat got out of the the Gulf Stream. In the past he ran Richard Sanders, and Herman concentration of shrimp. When he fishing, dinner cruises, dance cruises, trips. She was sold after the fishing party business in the mid-seventies the Virginia R, Boss Hogg, and Sea Humphries. Frank Juel would hire loaded the Chippewa he wanted to and chartered events." Steve recently 23 season of 1985 Captain Stevens and was magistrate at Little River for Gypsy." vacationing college students on his mark the area, so he could return the bought the Riverside Tavern from the next boat was the 90 foot New Cap- a while. Robert Small carried parties on the boats. next day. Knowing that other boats Kinlaws. He plans to sell sundries tain .Jim. She was fished for a while Terry Coffee started in the fishing Cheryl Ann, the Swift Ship I, the Hugh McGinn was only peripher- would come to a bouy, he caught a and open a restaurant on the prem ises. out of Little River and was sold to the business working with Frank Juel on Shannon Maria, and in 1997 started ally involved in the recreational fish- pelican that had become entangled in L.D. "Tink" Benton became a fix- Speros in 1990 along with Captain one of the Hurricanes. He worked on a 36 foot trolling boat, the Small ery. As a young man he worked for his try net and sprayed it with green ture at Little River in 1980. He bought Jim's Marina at Calabash, NC. This Boys." on the New Rascal in 1980 with Joe the Corps of Engineers, was a hard paint, tied a line with a weight on it the hotel, the marina, Mary Juel's old boat was then renamed the Hurricane Elliott and then ran the Virginia R The Sophie, carrying 35 people hat diver and worked with underwa- to the pelican's foot and threw it over house, and the restaurant that had IT.22 and the Party Time in the mid- eight- and run by Captains Leonard and ter repairs and explosives. He finally the side as a marker. He came back been operated very successfully by Joe Elliott worked with Vivian ies. Most recently he has served as Marlowe, was advertised as fishing ended up in the commercial shrimp to this marker for several days- feed- Mary Juel for many years. He bought Bessent on the Rascal in the 50s and captain of the Pride of the Caroli- from Little River in 1938 (Myrtle and fish business at Little River. He ing his bird generously with fish af- a 90 foot Aluminum hull vessel, the ran the Johnnie Jr for Vance Kinlaw nas. This was a stint of about ten Beach News 1938). did in the 1920s have bateaus which ter he had gotten another load of Pride of the Carolinas, about this and he also captained the Tradewinds years. In 1997 he took over the Fish Others who operated vessels from he rented to people and particularly shrimp. After the concentration of time and has operated her as a party and Hurricane for Frank JueI.7.' He Screamer." time to time included Lenzy Carter the Corps of Engineers when they shrimp moved on he released the peli- boat since. She is licensed for 80 began half-day trips on the Billy John Vereen (W.J.) was in- who ran the Marhill both at Little were surveying for the inland water- can. He often wondered what the pasengers and has been run by sev- Tradewinds. Joe bought the Rascal volved in the recreational fishery as River and in Florida; Gerald Nixon way. He caught and sold bait shrimp Wildlife Department would think of eral captains beginning with Larry from Vivian Bessent in 1975 and ran the operator of yachts used by corpo- who operated my boat, The Hobhy to recreational fishermen as a teen- a green pelican if it ever came to their Platt, then Chip Stevens, and for ten her for several years before retiring." rations to entertain executives and for a short while; Bobby Gore who ager in the '20s. Sometimes he made attention. Some people envious of years Terry Coffee. In 1997 Danny Joe's boys Ed and Randy have fol- customers. Billy John began his fish- ran the Joy; Bill Brown on the Sporty over $30 in a day selling a gallon paint Hugh's success claimed he didn't re- Juel took her helm. "Tink" had the lowed in their father's footsteps. Both ing as a mate on the Josephine for and Hurricane H; and William Scott, can full for $1. He carried people lease the bird, but cooked and ate it. Sundancer built in 1982. She is a 40 helped on the Rascal. Randy, the el- Lawrence Long. He made a trip on the Viola III between 1950 and the river fishing in the '20s and was paid Wayne Henderson has been a fix- footer powered by a 692 detroit die- dest, commercial fished on the Blue the Josephine in 1938 to pick up mid-70s. In the period between the what they wanted to give. He owned ture on the waterfront for years. He sel and carries charters of up to 20 Seas for several years before getting YMCA campers at Mars Bluff, SC on mid-70s and late-80s, the following a shrimper the Gilda and Don and has run a fish house, a clam depura- people. The Sundancer is run by a charterboat, the Venture. This boat the Pee Dee River and bring them to were active: Neil Juel operated the on two occasions took parties on her. tion plant and a restaurant. Over the Robby Searborough." is a modern 32 ft fiberglass vessel Camp Nixon.' Golden Lady; Jim Williamson; the He provided fish boxes for the people years he has bought and sold several Mr. Benton has had an active ad- powered with a 378 hp Detroit die- Billy John operated L.M. Boyd's Big Mike and The Other Woman; to sit on. Hugh also had the contract boats, and on occasion has taken par- vertising campaign designed to bring sel." yacht the Lois Ann for a couple of Ed Lenke captained the Sea Gypsy; to maintain the buoys and lights for ties on them, but has never really con- the crowds back to Litlle River. He Ed operated the Johnnie Jr. for years and then the Flying Fish for Roger Owens the Amberjack; RE. the U.S. Coast Guard at Little River centrated on this end of the business." uses at times television, newspaper, L.D. "Tink" Benton in the mid-eight- Paul Russell. These were NOIth Caro- Lewis on the Tom Cat; Larry Platt Inlet.' Gus and Steve Speros moved to and beach magazines along with bro- ies and then the Cyclone for the lina industrialists. He took the Fly- on the Dolphin and the Carolina McGinn recalls commercial hand Little River in 1973 from Maxton, chures to draw attention to fishing op- Speros until 1994. He has operated ing Fish to Florida and Bimini in the Princess; Chip Stevens on the Cy- line fishing for black sea bass right NC. Steve, Gus's son, got ajob mat- portunities at his operations."

22 23 ------..------'" V. G. Burrell, Jr.: The Recreational Fishery in l.ittle Rivet: South Carolina V. G Burrell, Jr.: The Recreational Fishery in Little River, South Carolina

Mac Nobles was a familiar fixture The Fleet Over the Years a party to fish in the river. Moon light on the waterfront from the 1950s cruises were $2 per person. through the 1970s. He was probably From the beginnings until 1930, Bearden (1969) reported eleven the best mechanic ever to work on the probably only four to five head boats charter boats and four head boats op- boats. He was equally at home with owned by Bob High, Les High, Vic- erating from Little River. He listed a diesel or gasoline engine. Mac was tor Cox, Rob Mintz, and Liston Tho- costs per day on charter boats at $80 too accommodating for his own good, mas made up the party fishing fleet. to $200 per day for the boat. Indi- often working through the night to get Fares ran from $.50 to $1 per person vidual costs on the head boats were someone to sea the next day. Hardly for a full days fisbing.'>' During the $8 to $12 for a blackfish trip or $20 -.-==-s..- .....- The Little River docks in 1960 showing most of the boats. (photo by Jack L. Thompson from Along the Coast, 1960) any boatman around was not obli- thirties the number of boats increased for a "Gulf Stream" trip. gated to Mac in one way or another. to probably a high of eight or nine just In 1973, seven head boats fished Mac's son Ronnie worked as a mate before World War II. The general out of Little river (Huntsman 1976b). for $1200. Moonlight cruises were night trips to the snapper-grouper nental slope. Water temperatures on on boats and was associated with price was $1 per person for an all day There were at least ten charter boats $8 per person with dinner cruises, banks.": These trips were referred to the outer shelf are influenced greatly Jimmie Stevens for several years. He trip (6 to 8 hrs)." In the late forties and one river boat (Anon 1974, ocean cruises and a variety of other as "Gulf Stream trips" (Bearden by the warm Gul f Stream moving built a beautiful model ofthe 85 foot war surplus boats came into the fleet Bearden and McKenzie 1973). Head sea going excursions offered. Only 1969). These areas range up to 50 or north along the shelf break. This re- Bonita which is on display at the and there were probably IOta 12 boat fares ranged from $8-$13 for in- one large head boat is fishing out of more miles offshore in depths exceed- sults in most of the fish being tropi- South Carolina Marine Resources boats fishing at one time or another. shore tri ps and $20-$25 for Gu If Little River in 1997. This is the 90 ing 80 feet (Moore et ai, 1980, 1985, calor subtropical species (Huntsman Research Institute. Ronnie now has The fare was $2 per person. In 1956, Stream trips. foot Pride of the Carolinas and it Huntsman 1976a). This area, the 1976a,b, Huntsman and Macintyre, his own construction company." the gasoline powered vessels were The tleet in 1977 was made up of concentrates on half-day trips during outer continental shelf, contains two 1971). The snapper-grouper complex, James Ivey Stone worked for sev- restricted to six passengers by the seven head boats, eight charter boats, the week with one Gulf Stream trip different habitats that attract and con- as it is known, is made up of many eral of the boat owners for many Merchant Marine Act of 1956. This and one river boat. Fares had in- on Saturday. Ten or twelve charter centrate fishes. One, the area lying species of popular food fish such as years. These included Frank Juel, led to a differentiation between head creased to $10 per hal f-day trip and boats still sail from the docks at Little between depths of 90 to 180 feet, is red and vermilion snapper, red, war- Sam Gardner, Mettler Vereen, and boats and charter boats (six passen- $15 per whole day trip for inshore River. No river boats were reported. characterized by low relief patches of saw, snowy, gag and scamp groupers, others. He was a talented mechanic gers or less). At this time there were bottom fishing; $30 for a Gulf Stream coral and rocky outcrops. The other, rock and speckled hind, tile fish, por- and electrician as well as a good sea- about nine head boats and eight char- trip; and had jumped to $200-$250 for The Fishing Grounds lying further offshore in 180 to 600 gies and grunts (Huntsman I976a,b ). man. He often did much of the boat ter boats. A day to the blackfish banks an inshore trip and $450 for an off- feet of water, is the area of the conti- Fishing for pelagics by trolling handling on the Ocean Queen and was $5, to the Gulf Stream $15, and a shore trolling trip on charter boats Prior to World War 1\ all the ocean Carolina Queen when they were car- charter $35-$60 for 4-6 people. (Moore 1977). fishing took place on the blackfish rying parties. He converted military The boats shown in the Along the Moore et al (1985) listed five head banks. Blackfish, which is the famil- radios for marine purposes and sev- Coast magazine in 1960 fishing out boats and eight charter boats docked iar name for black sea bass, has domi- eral boats including mine had ex- of Little River plus a few others at Little River. Some of the head boats nated the fish assemblage in these amples of his handy work on board.':' missed when the picture was taken, carried up to 100 passengers. habitats and is responsible for their Kenneth D. Nobles, a West Virgin- totalled six head boats, nine charter A tally by the National Marine name (Struhsaker 1969). These were ian, came to Little River in the late boats, and four river boats (Darby Fisheries Service 1996 listed three located 5 to 25 miles offshore in 1970s. He was involved in the cable 1960). The largest of the boats, the head boats and ten charter boats depths ranging from 40- I 20 feet television business, but he got inter- Ocean Queen was licensed to carry (Dixon 1997)30 Head boats charged (Struhsaker 1969, Moore et ai, 1980, ested in the party fishing. He bought 175 passengers. The rates had in- $26 half-day, $60 for Gulfstream fish- 1985). The fish were congregated on the Helen Jean and Johnnie Jr from creased to $6 for inshore head boat ing, and $65 for shark fishing." Char- patches of rocky outcrops which pro- Vance Kinlaw and then the Bonita fishing, $15 for the Gul f stream, $50- ter boats ranged from $375 for a half- vide substrate for attached organisms. from Jimmy Stevens. He bought the $60 to charter a boat and $15-$20 for day trolling to a 16 hour marlin trip These attached animals such as hard Tradewinds IV from Frank Juel and coral, soft coral and bryozoans pro- also added the Boss Hogg and Vir- vided food and shelter for mobile or- ginia R to his fleet. The Boss Hogg ganisms as shrimp, crabs, and mol- was later sold to Gus Speros. Mr. lusks which in tum were fed on by Nobles also brought in a commercial black sea bass and other large fish. boat, the Captain K.D. Nobles en- These areas are commonly called live tered into a lease/buy agreement for bottom or blackfish banks (Bearden Hugh McGinn's fish house. Nobles and McKenzie 1973, Sedberry 1988, is no longer involved on the water- Struhsaker 1969). front at Little River and all of his ves- The Lillie River fishingfleet prior to Hurricane Hozel in the early I 950s. (photo In the early fifties some of the head sels and fishing facilities have been courtesy Vance Kinlaw) boats began to take parties on over- The Lillie River docks in the late 1970s. (photo courtesy of Jack L. Thompson, Myrtle taken over by others.':' Beach, SC)

24 25 ------...------, V. G. Burrell, Jr.: The Recreational Fishery in Little River. South Carolina V. G. Burrell, Jr.: The Recreational Fishery in Little River; South Carolina

~ GTTLER!Y-E§ S.C.

A catch of Spanish mackerel on a trolling boat in the mid 19505. A catch of over 100 fish by a party offour was not uncommon. (photo/rom the Dunnegan Collection)

A catch of black sea bass on the Rascal, mid 1950 s. In the early days of the fishery no one ever thought that there could be a limit ofthejish in the sea, so afisherman landed boats takes place from almost in the group would come from upstate North blackfish which probably weighed and kept all the fish he could. (photo from the Dunnegan Collection) breakers for Spanish mackerel to the Carolina or South Carolina prepared nearly 100 pounds." Faye Mintz fish- outer shelf for marlin, sailfish, and to take home really large catches of ing in the 1960s with her father in law, yellow fin tuna. In between the catch fish, even a pickup truck load. At first Rob Mintz, caught 177 spot on a river may include king mackerel, dolphin, some of these fish were probably sold trip." In the fall, many times, a party bonita, and bluefish. Most of these or given to friends, but later with the would catch several 50 pound lard fish are abundant late spring through advent of home freezers, large catches stands full of spot fishing in the river.' CAli -HT "'80J!kD -"'. WJ_ flANK JUEL'.S~' ... fall. (Moore et al 1980). provided table fare throughout the The Gul f Stream parties would 'HURRICANE Shark fishing takes place inshore winter. The captains made great ef- nearly always load the display rack LITTLE liVEIi,S C where the shrimp boats operate. forts to satisfy their customers and to on the hotel dock, One trip I made Sharks are often caught in the area impress their peers, Lawrence Long with Frank Juel in the early sixties had where the shrimp catch is culled.':'? recalls a catch on the Josephine as its purpose to catch fish for Mary River fishing catch varies by time which after the anglers left with all Juel's restaurant. Six of us filled ev- of year with best spot, whiting, and the fish they could handle, he was left ery fish box between six and nine, croaker catches usually in the fall. with a small truck load, which he gave thirty am on a Sunday morning, We Weakfish, red drum, and flounder are to a man parked on a hill who then were glad to put away the fishing gear present all year but are caught mostly sold them to others" and head for home, in the summer and fall. Spotted trout In the 1950s and '60s, catches of As half-day trips became more are caught just about year around several hundred Spanish mackerel in popular, the emphasis on large black- (Bearden and McKenzie 1973, Moore a day were common, Bill and David fish catches necessarily had to change et al 1980), Clemons brought in 565 on a day trip just because of shorter fishing time, on the Eva Mae, A party from Con- but also because of the limited num- The Catch Over the Years cord, NC caught nearly that many on ber of fish on inshore banks, Larger my boat the same day, boats carrying more passengers also The earliest fishermen were out to Mary Platt, a long time resident of cut down the average catch because A catch by a party fishing in the Gulf Stream on Frank Juel s Hurricane, mid 19505. Little River, recalls fishing with the (photo from the Dunnegan Collection) catch the most and the largest fish it was often impossible to find large possible, They were referred to as Juels on several occasions, On one concentrations of fish close to shore "meat fishermen." Sometimes a trip in the 1950s she bought back 47 in the immediate vicinity of the inlet.

26 27 •

V. G. Burrell, Jr.: The Recreational Fishery in Little River; South Carolina V. G. Burrell, Jr.: The Recreational Fishery in Lillie River. South Carolina

As the season progressed, the catch strong recovery of this species and pedals. Heavier sinkers and larger dropped as the banks became fished (Keep fer 1997). This bodes well for hooks were used.' Bait again was out. Low (1997) found that statewide the future availability of fish for the usually salted or frozen squid pro- average headboat catch per angler per sportsman. vided by the boat (Huntsman I976a).' day had dropped from 8.2 pounds to Later on light tackle was intro- I.3 pounds in the period 1977 to 1995. Fishing and Navigational duced by the individuals chartering The decline of inshore catches may Gear boats. Some of these fishermen used not be as great at Little River as in spinning ngs. other areas because of the skill of the In the beginning, customers fish- Charters specializing in shark fish- captains and relatively more area to ing on the black fish banks were fur- ing use heavy gear with very power- fish. Charter boats carrying small nished with hand lines. These were ful reels. parties still commonly bring in around fashioned from #24 tarred cotton Many of the charter boats also ten pounds per angler when bottom twine. They were about 100 ft long rigged out two short hand lines with fishing inshore." A new size limit of having two 6/0 hooks tied off on two a rubber link or a piece of shock cord 10 inches total length on black seabass loops just above a sixteen ounce bank to keep the fish on the line. These will further reduce the number offish sinker.' When not in use these were were pulled from the stem and fished bought back (Gaulden 1997). wound on a short piece of wood. shorter than the regular trolling lines. The boats fishing offshore in the Some of the boats had grooves worn The mate tended these lines and of- 1990s still bring in very respectable in the rail from the dropping and re- ten they caught more Spanish mack- catches, not as consistently as in trieving of these lines. After World erel and school bluefish than the party 1950s to 1980s, but sometimes over War TJ rods and reels came into gen- and reels. Mates or strikers on the boats often supplemented their pay and tips by dressing the 50 pounds per fisherman. This is par- eral use the first rods were made of The first parties were seldom taken party Sfish. The two in this picture are cleaning sharks caught by Larry Long s ticularly true of charter boat parties. out of sight of land. Gause Hill, a very party (1'17010 courtesy of Larry long) split bamboo and then later fiberglass. The offshore catch in 1977 was domi- The hand lines were always provided large sand dune which was several nated by the red porgy, but in 1996 it free, but at first the rod and reels were miles up the coast in North Carolina, was chiefly made up of vermilion rented for a small fee. Later rods and was often used as a point ofreference snapper which may be indicative of reels were provided gratis, and the to locate the fishing banks and also " J"te:"v • JG'~I excessive fishing pressure on the hand lines phased out. Bait was usu- to come home by. After 1929, when HlJRR/tAN fanner species by this fishery (S.c. ally salted squid, octopus, or cut up the Ocean Forest Hotel was built at - dGI .[WI ~~M. Dept of Natural Resources 1997). fish or salt pork and was furnished by Myrtle Beach, party boat operators Many fish are released alive today ('J JPlt~~~ I_fv\~I.WL fll~' 11:') f,iAT the boat. used it as a reference point (Lewis t~1~IH~t~;~~Il!rli,:Il ;~:',;,l,l'. because of size and catch restrictions Riverboat fishermen used 1988a). :.\IIi ~~G~WtJ,~~~\i!llm:ljilk'l.: placed on the various species by state hardlines at first, but with smaller Navigation prior to the late 1940s HA~~IHI iAl1li,"I,:~I;;l". and federal regulations. However, hooks and weights, but then they all was done with a watch and compass. • more and more anglers are practicing went to rods and reels. Their bait was The fishing banks were found by and just enjoy the thrill most often frozen shrimp that had steering a set course for a given length of the water (Davy 1994). The been thawed. of time. When in vincinity of the Governor's Cup Billfish Tournament Charterboats used rods and reels banks, the mate would cast ahead of awards points for released fish that when trolling from the beginning. the boat as it moved slowly along. are included to determine winners in These used linen line at first, but then When he started catching fish two at various categories (Anon 1997b). went to nylon, then Dacron or Monel. a time a flag bouy was set. These Don Hammond, program leader for These rigs always used stainless steel bouys usually were a 10-12 ft bam- the S.c. Department of Natural leaders and various lures or a rigged boo pole with a cloth flag at the top, a Resource's Finfish Utilization Pro- bait made from whole fish or cut cork float a quarter of the way up from gram, estimated that prior to 1989,90 strips. the bottom of the pole and a weight percent of the billfish caught off South The Gul f Stream boats first used attached to the end opposi te the flag Carolina's coast were killed. Now the three hand lines tied end to end and to hold the flag erect. Bouys had a A catch of black sea bass in the mid J 9505. Thesefish would sometimes be given away, figure has been reversed and more only one hook. Soon these were line and an anchor attached to hold but most often would be carried home to freezers for winter time consumption. (photo than 90percent are released alive. Red supplemented by rods with hand reels them in position. The skipper would from the Dunnegan Collection) drum size and along with and then electric reels and also a crank allow the boat to drift away from the tagging has been responsible for a reel that was made from a bycycle rim flag until the fish quit biting and then

28 29 V. G. Burrell, Jr.: The Recreational Fishery in Little River. South Carolina V. G. Burrell, Jr.: The Recreational Fishery in Little River. South Carolina would move back up to the bouy and With the passage of the Merchant during the '30s the fee was $1 per Wilmington, NC.' Seafood on many many operators devoted much of their Some great tales involving some make another drift. Sometimes the Marine Act of 1956, the gasoline pow- day.': occasions during the 1930s Depres- spring to getting boats ready for the of the individual fishermen are re- flag would be left overnight to mark ered boats were relegated to carrying Both river and seagoing boats were sion was bartered for farm prod- summer season. The season also has membered by the captains. a good spot. six or less passengers due to fire most often repaired and maintained uctS.4.17 been extended so that many are tak- One, Victor S. Cox recalled had to Depth recorders came into the fish- hazzards. As time went by, more and by the owners and crew. For many Following World War !1 more op- ing parties as late as November and do with a slightly inebriated soldier ery in the late forties followed by fish more boats went to diesel so that now years, bottoms were cleaned and portunities for off season work be- as early as March. just after World War II. He, despite finders which showed fish on a cath- just about all the boats in the fishery painted by putting the boat aground came available. Some worked at the all of Captain Victor's efforts, spent ode ray screen. This made finding use this power. Popular diesel engines at high tide. When the tide went out nearby beaches in construction. Oth- The Fishermen most of his day at sea balancing on fish easier especially at the Gulf over the years have been GM 671s the work was done and the boat re- ers extended their fishing season by the rail of the boat or on the edge of floated on the next high tide. Some- Stream. LORAN was the next navi- and I 1Os, Cummings, and Caterpil- taking their boats to Florida or get- Very early, local people began to the cabin. He never fell off - until times pine straw was burned under the gational aid to be employed, first "A" lar. As boats got larger and speed was ting jobs on boats down there.' This come to Little River probably to fish just as the boat tied up at the dock and then "C". Now satellite naviga- needed to get to the fishing areas boat prior to painting to cause enough group included Frank Juel, Jimmy or to help with the haul seines at over he went and had to be fished out faster, VI2s were employed. Now heat to ki 11 any worms that were tion units are employed by the most Stevens, Olin Carter, Leroy Mintz, Waties Island. Later folks from of the drink. popular engines are 600 hp Detroit present. The bottom planks retained sophisticated fishermen. This makes Danny Juel, and others. Some such around the Charlotte, Gastonia areas Another time a man drank a vast diesels and 892 GM's up to 735 hp. enough moisture to keep from catch- locating the fishing banks very much as Victor S. Cox, Victor E. Cox, and of North Carolina started coming to amount of whiskey on Frank Juel's ing fire. Anti-fouling paint atthattime easier than in the old days. River boats first got to the fishing Hugh McGinn and again Leroy Mintz the Little River area. They camped boat and became belligerent. He be- spots by oar power. In the mid-thir- was usually applied to a wet boat bot- Ship to shore radios were intro- went south with the shrimping fleet, on the waterfront and sometimes gan to threaten the crew and passen- tom. When twin screws came in, ca- duced to the fishery in the late 40s. ties outboards came into use by some. Leroy and Hugh operating their own stayed a week or two. They travelled gers with a knife and Frank in his ef- reening was no longer possible.' Some were war surplus military tank These early engines were somewhat boats and Coxes building nets for oth- in T model Fords and other early forts to control the man shot him in unreliable and no one left the dock radios converted to handle marine ers.I.J.4·3J makes of cars, taking a dirt road from the shoulder. This allowed the crew without a good set of oars. My uncle channels. First units operated on two Off Season Employment Victor Sloan Cox and Victor Earl Whiteville, NC to Longs, SC and then to tie him up and he was transported or three channels, and then came VHF had a 2 Y, hp "Waterwitch" which was Cox opened an oyster shucking house to Little River. People from this part to the Conway hospital when the boat and now cellular phones are used by sold by Montgomery Ward for less The first party boat fishermen had in the mid-fifties. They shucked oys- of North Carolina from the beginning could get him ashore. He was very than $100. To my knowledge it never fishermen. Single side band radios are to depend more on their a ff season ters using the Pringle Heat Shuck made up a large contingent of the contrite when the alcohol wore off and made a round trip to the fishing area used for communicating when far off- activities to make a living than the method and packed them first in glass people fishing at Little River and this he sneaked out of the hospital and shore such as when . around Tilgemans Point near the summer recreational fishery. In the jars and then lithographed tin cans. has remained so to this day.',48.' went home. Shortly thereafter he col- mouth of the inlet. Hugh McGinn The earliest engines to be used in beginning party fishing was confined These were distributed in the Pee Dee Most people coming to the coast lapsed and apparently died of kidney recalls operating an eight horse Elto the fishery were one and two cylin- pretty much to the period correspond- South Carolina area by me. After the from mid-and upper South Carolina failure (Dunnegan 1994)" der gas engines. Some lacked reverse outboard in 1927 for the U.S. Army ing to the school vacations, Memo- Coxes got out of the business, Donnie had a more circuitous route to travel. One time Frank had a man aboard Corps of Engineers. It had a hot shot gears and were stopped or backed rial Day to Labor Day. After the party Mintz took over their trade and ran a They went from Conway straight to the Hurricane who had to put his battery and was hand cranked in for- down by shutting them off and start- boat fishing season many ofthem con- shucking house up until the 1970s. Myrtle Beach or through Wampee, SC wife on a trolling boat because she ward or reverse by a knob on the fly ing them back up in reverse. Two verted their boats over to Jerome Long was a skilled boat to reach Ocean Drive and Cherry thought she would get seasick when wheel. None of these engines got into popular makes were Palmer and shrimping."'? Some of these were builder and spent his off season re- Grove Beaches. It was not until a the head boat began to drift while fish- the fishery so far as anyone can re- Lathrop, but there were many oth- Bob High, Rob Mintz, Victor Cox, pairing or building boats for others. good bridge was bui It to accommo- ing. He asked to use the ship to ship member. Hugh McGinn did buy a 10 ers.':" Automobile engines were Bill Bessent, and Donnie Mintz. Rob He was also a very good barber and date the Intracoastal Waterway and radio to talk to his wi fe and when he hp Johnson in 1940 for $160 which popular during the thirties as well as Mintz also helped operate a beach operated a shop in the building that link up with Highway 9 in 1934 that got her on the radio he tried to make he used in the river.' All outboard marine engines built by Chrysler, seine fishery at Cherry Grove Beach Dr. Stone used for an office. a direct route from eastern South her sick by talking about all kinds of engines up until the fifties had inte- Gray, Sterling and Continental. Con- for Mr. Luther Wilson.' Late in the Lawrence Long spent two of his win- Carolina was in place. This route was queasy types of foods. This didn't sit gral gasoline tanks and were hand version kits were available that were fall some fishermen moved from the ters building his own boat the Cheryl paved in the late 1930s and this in- right with one of the mates so he made started with a pull cord wound around specific for certain automobile en- beach seine fishery to the river to set Ann. creased the number of visitors from a salt squid sandwich with a lot of the fly wheel. From the early fifties gines. Popular kits made by Osco and gill nets for spot and stop seines for In 1960 Frank Juel initiated black- mid-and upper South Carolina. The mayonnaise and offered the man a most river fishennen began to use Barr Mfg provided jacketed mani- flounder. Victor Cox ran his boat the fish potting. He was very successful Intracoastal Waterway bridge also bite. Guess who got seasick" larger outboards (10-18 hp). In the folds for cooling, flame arrester car- Edward through Sheep Head Creek in catching fish, but not very good at linked up what is now Highway 17 By accident I discovered a fine sixties they got up to 35 hp and some buretors, oil coolers and reduction to carry fish caught in Lucian Bryan's making a profit at it. He recalls sell- and made access from Myrtle Beach seasick remedy. On a trip in the early were electric started. Rob Mintz al- gears. Many people just used the au- beach seine on Waties Island to mar- ing nearly a hundred boxes of black- and other areas much easier.':" In re- fall we began to catch octopus on ways had inboards on his river boats. tomobile engines as they were with ket in the mid-I920s. The fish were fish for $12 per 100 pound box.' cent years strong efforts by North hook and line. I saved a few for a First a one cylinder Lathrop and then the same gear box." salted and packed in 100 pound kegs.' Lawrence Longs' sons Larry, Billy, Myrtle Beach and Myrtle Beach science class that a friend taught. a six cylinder Continental. The Josephine was the first party Several men clammed and oystered and Ricky have continued blackfish chambers of commerce have brought They were put on ice in a Styrofoam Vance Kinlaw and Sam Vereen boat to have a diesel. She was pow- and the Prince, a former purse seiner potting and the economics involved people from all over the world into cooler and placed below in the cabin. rented wooden 16-18 ft boats to an- ered by a 30 hp Fairbanks Morse that that had fished for the fertilizer fac- are much better now.12.13.IG,34 the area and many have taken advan- One of the party had started feeling gave her a top speed of 6-8 mph.' glers for river fishing. At one time tory carried their catch north to Of course every boat owner and tage of the fishing at Little River. bad and had laid down in a berth be-

30 31 a

V. G Burrell, Jr.: The Recreational Fishery in Little River. South Carolina V. G Burrell, Jr.: The Recreational Fishery in Little River: South Carolina

side the cooler. One of the octopii about all the amenities one could Acknowledgements Vance and Helen Kinlaw provided Personal Communications 14. Dannie Mintz decided that he didn't like the cooler want. Retirees from other areas now much valuable information not only 162 I Edgewood Dr. and crawled out on the ailing man's make up a significant part of the popu- I am obligated to a large number about their boats and their Tavern, but I. Hugh T M'Ginn Little River, SC 29566 arm. This woke the man up and when lation. The river front itselfhowever of people who took time our from also about the early boatmen and their 4410 Mineola Ave. he saw the creature on his arm made has retained much of its character. busy schedules to help me put this clientele. Little River, SC 29566 15. Wilford Mintz a mad dash up on deck. He stayed The main street has been paved and history together. These included the Edward High, Captain Bob's son, Box 134 there for the rest of the trip and for- the docks are wider and better main- fishermen: Terry Coffee, Edward was able to provide details of his 2. Lawrence Long Little River, SC 29566 got about being sick. tained, but other than that it looks Elliott, Danny Juel, Billy Long, Chris father's boats and activities datins -Deceased- about as it did in the '30s. Long, Ricky Long, Tommy Long, '" back to the first parties. I appreci- 16. Tommy Long Epilogue Eating and lodging facilities have Bobby Mintz, Danny Mintz, Ronnie ated this valuable input. 3. Victor S. Cox 1567 Watson Ave. kept up with demand both in avail- Nobles, Robbie Scarborough, Robert Without the help of Leroy Mintz -Deceased- Little River, SC 29566 Seventy-five years after a small able rooms and cuisines offered. Small, Jimmie Stevens, Billy John and Hugh M'Ginn my task would group of young men found a way to People are too sophisticated now Vereen, and Max Vereen. The boat have been impossible. Hugh through 4. Leroy Mintz 17 Chris Long make a living carrying people into the however for the $1 rooms at the Little owners L.D. "Tink" Benton and Steve his recollections gave me an oral his- P.O. Box 525 1898 N. Twisted Oaks Dr. ocean to catch a mess of fish, what River Hotel and Riverview Tavern of Speros. Family members of those tory of Little River, spanning his Little River, SC 29566 Little River, SC 29566 has become of this industry as it has the '305 and '40s that were cooled involved in the fishery: Mrs. TV. eighty-five years. He went over this matured? The boats have changed. with whatever breeze that came Bessent, J.R. Bessent, T V. Bessent paper straightening out where I was 5. Edward High 18. David Clemons Instead of a conglomeration of boats through the open windows. Nothing Jr., Cecille Cox, Faye Mintz, wrong and adding to it where needed 452 Causeway Dr. 1471 Highway 17 that had beginnings in some other has taken the place of the meals of- Winefred Mintz, and Patricia Vereen. and I thank him. Wrightsville, NC 28480 Little River, SC 29566 field, the fleet is made up of high pow- fered at Mrs. Kate Vereens or Mrs. Long time residents of Little River: Leroy and I spent many hours go- ered, high tech boats specifically Mary Platts however. Bridger Baldwin, Mary Platt, and ing over events as he or I recalled 6. W.J. Vereen 19. Steve Speros manufactured for the purpose for What is the future of the fishery? Louise Stone. Mrs. Virginia Bradley them and documenting his and his P.O. Box 667 P.O. Box 541 which they are used. One boat now The pioneers, who dominated the of the Lake Shore Motel helped me families involvement in the fishery. Little River, SC 2956 Little River, SC 29566 has more power than probably all the scene up until World War Il, are gone locate some of the people new to the Faye, his wife, helped greatly in dat- engines used between the industry's and their successors, the second wave fishery. ing many happenings. Leroy's time 7. Vance Kinlaw 20. Mrs. TV. Bessent beginnings and World War TTput to- that flourished up until the eighties all I am particularly grateful to Mrs. went back to his teenage experiences P.O. Box 157 1569 Bessent Ave. gether and certainly cost more. It no have about called it a day. The third Catherine Lewis, retired Horry prior to World War II. Little River, SC 29566 Little River, SC 29566 longer takes a whole day for a trip to group, some of the sons of the first County Librarian, and C.B. Berry a Paul Vernon provided photographs the blackfish banks. and second contingent, are now the noted historian of the area. Both of from the Dunnigan collection which 8. Frank Juel 21. TV. Bessent A fisherman does not expect to old guard. A new generation is on the them not only provided their pub- date back to the mid-fifties and I thank Box 98 684 Clearview Ave. feed his family all winter on the catch way. Some are first becoming own- lished articles on the area, but also him for his interest in this project. Little River, SC 29566 Charleston, SC 29412 from just one or two trips as he did in ers and captains and others are mates shared their valuable insights into Gilbert Maggioni researched the spe- many of the early events concerning the '30s, but is happy with a small learning the ropes. cifics of many vessels through his Little River. The late Ralph Ellis and 9. Ralph Ellis 22. Jimmy Stevens string and a pleasant day. Tag and Like everything that has survived early published registries of com mer- I spent several mornings going -Deceased- P.O. Box 100 release is the norm for many species for 75 years, the party fishing at Little cial vessels and I do appreciate his through his files documenting events Little River, SC 29566 and all are concerned with doing what River has changed, but in many ways involvement. in the fishery and recording his rec- 10 James R. Bessent they can to persevere and increase the remained the same. The old crowd Asia Lynch patiently helped me ollections. Frank Juel took several 734 Tallwood Dr. 23. Ronnie Nobles stocks of fish. has made way for the newcomers and get the paper in a readable form. hours of his time to provide times, Charleston, SC 29412 PO. Box 406 The river front is no longer a mad the old boats have been replaced by Charles Barans, David Cupka and fishing methods, boats and events as Little River, SC 29566 house of people looking for a place the new, but every year finds old and Glenn Ulrich reviewed the manuscript he recalled from his long and varied 11. Dannie Juel on a vessel or captains soliciting par- new customers boarding the boats ea- and provided valuable critiques and I career. David Clemons in several ses- thank them. P.O. Box 203 24. Edward Elliott ties every morning during the sum- gerly anticipating what the day will sions gave an insight into early boats Lastly, I have to thank those early Little River, SC 29566 3312 Mineola Ave. mer season. Ticket offices handle bring. When the 100'hanniversary of and fishermen as well as outside oc- fishermen who were my mentors and Little River, SC 29566 most of the business for the headboats the founding of the fishery comes cupations of the boatmen. Lawrence friends. Their stories of the begin- 12. Larry Long and most of the charter trips are around early next century, sons and Long at ninety-two went back into the nings of recreational fishing in the 1491 Watson Dr. 25. Terry Coffey booked by telephone. The season is maybe daughters of the present cap- earliest days of the fishery and told Little River area were instrumental in Little River, SC 29566 1505 Watson Ave. not just from Memorial Day to Labor tains will surely be carrying out a new me of his involvement. Larry, his el- inspiring me to undertake this effort. Little River, SC 29566 Day, but from March into November. generation of fishermen. dest son and I spent several produc- So to the late Victor S. Cox, Bob High, 13. Billy Long Little River itself has changed tive sessions at his supper table as he and Rob Mintz I say thanks and ask P.O. Box 344 26. Robby Scarborough from a small village with two or three brought me up to date on new fishing their forgiveness if! didn't get it just Little River, Sc 29566 P.O. Box 712 stores, to a bustling community with activities. right. Little River, SC 29566

32 33 V G. Burrell, Jr.: The Recreational Fishery in Little River. South Carolina V. G. Burrell, Jr.: The Recreational Fishery in Little River. South Carolina 27. Robert Small Bibliography Bowles, B.E. 1965. Excursion ves- 10805 Highway 917 Horry Herald, 1922. Factory makes sel sinks in harbor after collision. Megivern, M. 1996. Harry complex Smith, J.W. and c.r. Moore 1980. Nichols, SC 29581 no fish scraps. Horry Herald, Anon 1974. Marine Anglers Guide News and Courier, Charleston, named for uncommon politician. A socioeconomic survey of the Conway, sc August 24, 1922. to Fishing Piers and Boats in Sc. Nov 17, 1965. pp. Ia and Brunswick Beacon. Shallotte, third annual Arthur Smith king 28. Wayne Henderson pA South Carolina. S.C. Wildlife 5a. NC. Supl. July-Aug 1996 p62-63. mackerel tournament. S.c. Mar. 4474 Waterfront Ave. --- 1925. Strange fish brought in. Marine Resources Department Charleston Evening Post. 1941. Moore, c.J. 1977. A guide to saltwa- Resources. Ctr. Charleston, S.c. Little River, SC 29566 Horry Herald, Conway, Sc. May (SCWMRD). Charleston, sc. Accident held unavoidable. ter recreational fisheries in South Tech. Rep. No 46. II p. 14,1925. pl. 8p. Charleston Evening Post, Carolina. SCWMRD Charles- South Atlantic Fisheries Manage- 29. L.D. "Tink" Benton Huntsmen, G.R 1976a. Offshore ton, Sc. 46p. --- 1994. Polaroid tag and release Charleston, sc. May 19, 1941. ment Council 1997. List offish- P.O Box 365 head boat fishing in North Caro- program. P.O. Box 248 Murrells p.la. -- 1984. A socio-economic sur- ery management plans, amend- Little River, SC 29566 lina and South Carolina. MFR Inlet, Sc. 16p. Charleston News and Courier. vey of the seventh annual Arthur ments and supporting documents. Paper 1179. Mar. Fish. Rev. --- 1997a. Saltwater fishing tour- 1941. Seven lose lives off Little Smith king mackerel tournament. South Atlantic Fisheries Manage- 30. Mrs. Mary Platt 38(3): 13-23. naments and state record marine River after explosion. Charles- SCWMRD Charleston, SC. SC ment Council. Charleston, S.c. Highway 17 1976b. Offshore bottom fish- gamefish. SC Department of ton News and Courier, Charles- --e- Mar Resour Ctr Tech Rep. 58, Draft, rev. Jan.1997. 5p. Little River, SC 29566 eries of the United States. South Natural Resources Brochure. ton, SC. May 19, 1941. P I and 13p. S.c. Department of Natural Re- Atlantic Coast. In H.R. Bullis Jr. Charleston, SC. 6p. p2. ___ D.L. Hammond and D.O. sources. 1996. Marine fisheries 31. Mrs. Leroy "Faye" Mintz and AC Jones ed. Proc. College. ----- 1997b. South Carolina Cupka, D.M. 1974. Tires and Fish. Mycett 1111980. A guide to salt- and related laws. S.C. Dep. Nat. P.O. Box 525 Snapper-Grouper Fish. Resour. Governor's Cup. SC Department Low Country Sportsman. water fisheries in South Carolina. Res. Div. Mar. Resources. Little River, SC 29566 Western Central Atl. Ocean. FL of Natural Resources Brochure. 2(2):59,92-94. SCWMRD. Charleston, sc. 74p Charleston, S.C. 93p. Sea Grant Prog. Rep. 17: 192- Charleston, sc. 20p. Darby, W.E. 1960. You go after the 5 charts. 1997. Unpublished data- 32. Mrs. VE. Cox 221. Bearden, C.M. 1969. A report and big ones in big boats. Along the ___ D.L. Hammond, M. Bell, Headboat catch 1977 to 1997. 1423 Mariners Place ____ and IC.M'Intyre. 1971. recommendations on the saltwa- Coasl. Myrtle Beach, sc. June and EcC, Rowland 1985. A Percent catch by species by Little River, SC 29566 Tropical coral patches in Onslow ter sport fisheries of South Caro- 9, 1960. 6( 13):24-25. guide to saltwater recreational headboats in S.c. SCDNR Off. Bay. Am. Littoral Soc. Bull. 7(2) lina. Unpublished Report to SC Davy, K.B. 1994. South Carolina fisheries in South Carolina. S.c. Fish. Mgt. 30p. 33. Ricky Long 323-34. Wildlife Commission. 70p. marine gamefish tagging pro- Wildlife Marine Resources. Strusaker, P. 1969. 2406 Barry Street Jacobson, J.L. 1978. The law of the -- and M.D. M'Kenzie 1973. A gram. 1974-1992. SCWMRD. Dept., Mar. Resour. Div. Off. resources, composition, distribu- Little River, SC 29566 sea conference's "new" salmon guide to saltwater sport fishing Charleston, SC, 90p.+ appendix. Fish. Mgt. Re. Fish. Charleston, tion and commercial potential of provision. Ocean Law memo. in South Carolina. SCWMRD. Dixon, RH. 1997. NMFS head boat S.c. 95p 5 charts. continental shelf stock off SE OSH Extension Servo SG Mar. Charleston, sc 119p. survey. NMFS Beaufort Labo- Myatt, D.O. TIl 1978. The anglers U.S. Fish. Indust. Res. 4(7):261- Adv Prog Corvallis OR. 3p. Bell, M. 1996. Marine artificial ratory, Pivers Island, Beaufort, guide to South Carolina artificial 299. Keepfer, Scott, 1997. Wildlife suc- reefs. Sea Science. SC Depart- NC. Unpublished Ms. 2p refs. SC Wildl. Mar. Resour. Dep. Taylor, F.B. 1954. Hurricane Hazel cess stories. SC Wildlife. SC ment Natural Resources. Dunnegan, C. V. 1994. Captain Frank Mar. Resour. Div. Charleston, batters coastal resorts. Charles- Dep. Nat. Resour. July-Aug. Charleston, Sc. 6p. .r uel: Little River "Hurricane" sc. 29pp. ton News and Courier, Charles- 1997.44(4):6-11. Berry, c.B. 1996a. Prominent set- master. In Polaroid Tag and Re- Myrtle Beach News, 1938 The ton, S.c. pp.1 and 6B. Lewis, CiH, 1988a. Little River. tlers joined by marriage. Myrtle lease Programs. P.O. Box 248, Sophie fishing out of Little River, U.S. Department of Commerce. Coastal Courier. North Myrtle Beach Sun News, Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet, Sc. p4-5. Sc. Myrtle Beach News. Myrtle 1920. 52nd annual list of mer- Beach, sc. Feb. 4, 1988. pI B. Sc. June 6, 1996. pIc. Floyd, Blanche. 1996. Little River Beach, June 30,1938, p.6B. chant vessels of'the United States 1988b. II Feb 1988 p. lB. __ e-1996b. Inlet left sailors wary. has a colorful history. Myrtle --- Myrtle Beach News, I954a. Gover- for 1920. U.S. Dept. Commerce. 1988c. 18 Feb 1988 p. I B. Myrtle Beach Sun News, Myrtle Beach Sun News, Myrtle Beach, --- nor takes charge of recovery op- US Printing Off. Wash, DC. ---:--_1988d. 27 Feb 1988 p. 1B. Beach, sc. Dec 14, 1996. Ic. SC. March 2, 1996 p. 1b. erations: Coastal damage present. 553p. Liao, D.S. and D.M. Cupka. 1979. 1996c. Shrimper still in Little Gaulden, S. 1997. Bass bill swims Myrtle Beach News. Oct. 20, 1956. Merchant Marine Act of --=-:- Economic impacts and fishing River. Myrtle Beach Sun News, through house. Charleston News 1954, p.1 and 4. May 10, 1956. US Dept. Comm. success of offshore sport fishing Myrtle Beach, SC. July 6, 1996. and Courier. Charleston, SC. Myrtle Beach News, 1954b. Various US Printing Off, Was. DC. over artificial reefs and natural Ie April 11,1997.p. Ie. advertisements of recreational __ 1996. Magnuson-Stevens fish- habitats in SCWMRD Mar. Res. Berry, CiB, 1977. First rocket ride, Gragg, RO. 1994. The illustrated fishing boats. Myrtle Beach ery conservation and manage- Tech. Rep. Charleston, sc. 38, via steam boiler, was in Little history of Horry County. News. June 7, 1954, p.8A. ment act. US Dept. Of Comm. 27p. River May 27, 1918, says histo- Burroughs and Chapin Co., Inc. Sedberry, GR 1988. Food and feed- NOAA, NMFS. NOAA Tech. Low, RA. 1997. South Carolina fish- rian The Times, North Myrtle Myrtle Beach, SC. pi 04. ing of black sea bass, Memo. NMFS f/SPO-23, 121p. Beach, sc. May 19, 1977. p8. ery landings for 1996. Unpub- Centropristis striata in live bot- lished ms. 1997. SC Dep. Nat. tom habitats in the South Atlan- Resour. Charleston, Sc. Unpubl. tic Bight. 1. Elisha Mitchell. Sci. 20p. Soc. 104(2):35-50.

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35 V G. Burrell, Jr.: The Recreational Fishel)' ill Lirtle River. South Carolina

United States Treasury Depart- ment, Bureau of Customs 1945. Merchant marine vessels of the United States for 1945 .., U.S. Govt. Printing Off 773p. 1955. Merchant vessels of the United States. U.S. Treas. Dep. Bur. Customs. US Govt Printing Off. 970p. Workman, W.O. III. Ocean Queen was sl iced apart and sank quickly. Charleston News and Courier, Charleston, sc 18 Nov. 1965 plB Workman, W.D.III. 1965. Ocean Queen was sliced apart and sank quickly. Charleston News and Courier. Charleston, Sc. Nove 18,1965. P lB.

About the Author In 1937 the boat hired was the Ed- began to carry the Rascal out for Victor G. Burrell, Jr. is the direc- ward piloted by Victor S. Cox. Vivan Bessent on Sunday and Burrell tor emeritus of the Marine Resources After a stint in the U.S. Navy dur- ran his boat the Les. On occasion Research Institute of the South Caro- ing World War II, Burrell completed Burrell ran private boats for people lina Department of Natural Re- a B.S. degree at the College of and filled in on other boats at Little sources. Dr. Burrell grew up in Flo- Charleston and went to work on a River. In 1965 Burrell returned to rence, S.C. His first contacts with the family business in Florence. He pur- school at the College of William and Little River community began in 1935 chased a 41-foot boat built by Cap- Mary. He received a PhD in Marine when he "vas carried river fishing in a tain Eddie Gardner, a Charleston Har- Science in 1972. The Hobby was rented skiffby his uncle, Ted Burrell. bor pilot, in 1950, and started carry- sold to finance some of the schooling Two or three of these trips a year be- ing parties on weekends from and often when asked about her came the norm up until about 1940. Vereen's Marina on the Intracoastal Burrell says we ate her. After gradu- In 1937, Burrell was a camper at the Waterway. In 1952, Captain Victor ation Burrell retumed to South Caro- YMCA camp at Cherry Grove Beach, S. Cox began running the Hobby dur- lina as a marine scientist at the Ma- S.c. It was the practice to carry the ing the week while Burrell operated rine Resources Research Institute campers on an overnight camp out at her on weekends. This continued un- (MRRJ) of the S.C. Wildlife and Ma- what is now Ocean Isle Beach, N.C. til 1958. Then Victor E. Cox took rine Resources Department, where he The campers were transported there over for his father. became MRRI director in 1974 and by a vessel chartered at Little River. In the early 1960s Donnie Mintz retired in 1991.

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