THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, October 3, 1996             TAG: 9610030369
SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT 
                                            LENGTH:   26 lines

BOAT CAPTAINS MAKE PITCH ON PROPOSAL FOR BLUEFIN

Hatteras charter boat captains made a pitch in Washington, D.C., Wednesday to let them keep fishing for bluefin tuna.

Led by Dare County Commission Chairman R.V. ``Bobby'' Owens Jr., the Hatteras delegation met with federal fisheries officials and Sen. Lauch Faircloth, R-N.C.

``We told them that our fishermen were being treated unfairly'' by federal plans to prohibit the keeping of bluefin tuna until June 1 when the fish have left North Carolina waters, Owens said after the meeting. Currently the big, popular and profitable fish can be kept - one per day per boat - beginning Jan. 1, when they are schooling off Hatteras Island.

Owens was accompanied to the meeting by charter boat Capt. Walter Spruill. Faircloth chaired the meeting, also attended by federal fisheries officials Rolland Schmitten and William Hogarth.

``Senator Faircloth asked that all the information be gathered and he, Schmitten and Hogarth would get together again in about two weeks,'' Owens said.

``It was a fruitful meeting.'' by CNB