oldest school
Old Mossy Horns
I don't ever remember shark attacks being an issue like we see now ; but that's my bias.I think its a combo, more people means more chances its simple statistics....that and the waters off NC coast are lousy with sharks.....
Personally I doubt the sharks attacks keep many people away, or even out of the water, folks tend to have the mindset that they spent 1-3k for the week to be on the beach and they are damn well getting into the ocean. They dont think that they will be the "ones" to get pulled out in a rip or bitten by a shark and well they are probably right.
Still at the end of the day as a kid and younger adult I dont remember nearly as many people drowning at the beach as we see now every year, it seems like 12-20 people drown every year now and it sure doesnt seem like it was that many back in the 80-90's. Then again maybe I was just not paying attention....
certainly more people so as you say the math ,makes it more likely.
I was just telling someone yesterday how I thought caswell (where we like to stay) was immune. then minutes later a bald head attack.