2007 Letters to the Editor |
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Only on Hatteras and Ocracoke Photo Corner
Hatteras Village Christmas Parade A thought for election year As the New Year approaches, let us not forget that it is an election year, an opportunity for average men and women to change the political landscape of our county, state, and nation. During election cycles, politicians are renowned for their ability to fine-tune their positions on issues of the day as a means to appeal to a certain constituency. They tend to say what people want to hear, rather than what is a matter of truth. Whether you're a commercial fisherman fighting for your livelihood here on Hatteras Island or a small time farmer on the mainland fighting cheap foreign agricultural imports, remember that it is the politicians we choose to vote for who control our economic fate. Never forget what the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
did to our manufacturing infrastructure here in the Hatteras The price of gasoline
Fisheries Management Thank You for
printing my previous letter. I was just
sitting down to write another one, but something came up. It's the December Pacific Fisherman magazine,
and you should know that in it, you folks are referred to as "backbiters
and hair pullers" and "Bubbas" -- the Especially
odious to me were warm and fuzzy references to
Christmas page and slide shows Thank you for sharing your photos of the parade in the slide
show. We miss the island, and it seemed that for a few moments we were right
there with you all. I love what you are doing.
Really great photos. I wish I were there. Walter SipesGuest Column:
Life with no left turns
GeeGee Rosell Buxton State’s waterfront access fund The state has been given a grant to purchase water access land for the benefits of the people by Senate Bill 646. Louis Daniel, director of the state’s Division of Marine Fisheries approached me back in October to see if the Scotch Bonnet in Frisco property was available. He said he feels Hatteras Island needs a public water access, not only for various recreations and commercial fishing but for public welfare like in Hurricane Isabel. I wasn't there, but they told me that Scotch Bonnet was the lifeline to points south after the island was cut in half. With the climate supposedly changing and the risk of storms being more severe in the coming years, Daniel said they feel this property is needed for the good of Hatteras Island residents. I think they also want to build a civic-type center to promote marine wildlife, public boat ramp and docks, learning center and such. It is the last property of its type on the island, and if it is sold to a developer or someone with different plans, this opportunity will be forever gone to Hatteras Island residents. I told them I would be interested in selling it to them, and as of now it is one of 39 properties in the state being considered by Marine Fisheries. I am told a preliminary decision will be made some time in mid-December after they review properties also recommended by an advisory committee. This could be a chance for Hatteras Island residents to have this property without it being purchased by county taxes. It's all the state's money. I am also actively marketing it elsewhere, but I would truly like to see this property benefit the residents of Hatteras Island. If you and others on the island think this would be a huge asset, here are people to contact. Letters would be of more benefit as the assistant who is managing this said she is inundated by calls from people lobbying for sites in their area. Remember this is a statewide project. Also remember that Hatteras Island gets left behind many times with politics coming into play. Since the meeting is being held sometime in mid-December, timely resident input is of the essence. This property is about three acres, has a boat ramp, slips, good parking for cars and boat trailers and has a deepwater canal for access to the sound. A maintenance permit to keep this dredged has just been obtained. It also has easy roadside access and a 30-slip marina. The buildings were just renovated and would make good office space for Marine Fisheries or a learning center for marine life, and it has a large 1,500 square foot commercial garage for state equipment. Another site is being considered in Buxton. The Scotch Bonnet has many advantages over this other site. Much of what the state wants for the public is already in place -- slips, docks, boat ramp, deepwater channel, etc. Importantly, it is five miles closer to Hatteras Inlet than the other site, and you don't have to run far out into the sound to get to the inlet, which means a saving of more than half an hour and much fuel. If you feel that this could benefit residents and commercial and recreational fishermen, please contact Louis Daniel, director, North Carolina Marine Fisheries, 3441 Arendell St., Morehead City, NC 28557. Phone number is 1-800-682-2632. You can also contact Patricia Smith at Marine Fisheries at P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, NC 28557 or to tricia.smith@ncmail.net, or call Patricia Smith or Jennifer Floyd at 1-800-682-2632 or 252-726-7021. Jim O’Brien Llano County, Tex. (Editor’s Note: More information on the state’s funding for waterfront access projects is available on this Web site and from the Marine Fisheries Web site, http://www.ncfisheries.net/) Limited entry program for commercial fishermen Speaking as an Alaskan fisherman who has had 30 years experience with limited entry, IFQs, LAPs, DAPs and CDQs, I can sympathize with the problems of the North Carolina’s fisheries commissioners as they try to unravel it all. It might help if they understand that all these systems as they're designed nowadays are virtually identical. They all facilitate or install "privatization" of the resource. Privatization is what should be discussed. Twelve years ago we gave up our halibut and black cod to one of these programs. An 80 percent fleet reduction in one year is not a pretty thing to see. The town still feels the effects, and it seems that some of the very worst men wound up with the lion's share of the fishing rights. Today our town barely notices when the season is open. Compared to 12 years ago, we have little to do with removing the fish from the water. That's how it ends up. The local folks, who couldn't be put out of business in fair competition, are shut out by law. Looking back over the privatization schemes of the past, it's easy to see that the only benefit of these laws was to sweep up all the money into one place so it could be siphoned off. It's not a management tool of any kind. In fact, the laws in two notable cases (New Zealand redfish and Alaskan pollack) allowed the corporations to strip mine their fisheries to the point of collapse as soon as they got the locals out of the way. We had villages around the Gulf of Alaska that were inhabited for hundreds (or thousands) of years that finally died as a direct result of these laws. Others just lost their necessary local industries or their schools. A lot of life and fun has gone out of Alaska, starting 30 years ago when they came for our salmon. Our most prevalent salmon, a "pink" or "humpy," was worth 30 cents per pound in the 1960s before the plan was installed. Today we're paid 10 cents per pound. I imagine the North Carolina fisheries commissioners are already aware they are being romanced by some very smooth talkers about the benefits of one package or another. Find out who pays them. And then there are the biggest, most important and verbal fishermen who want you to approve the plan. Find out what they stand to gain. A dozen or so of our fishermen wound up with $10 to $50 million in fishing rights. More got a retirement package, but the majority lost everything. I'd strongly advise a go-slow approach. Play out the clock, and hold them at bay. I cannot believe that America will go much farther down this road. John Finley Kodiak, Alaska The mess at Mirlo Beach One thing regarding Mirlo Beach and the S-Curve area that I doubt many realize is that years ago there was an inlet there. It was called Loggerhead. Records are not exact but indicate it opened sometime prior to1851 and closed in the late 1870s. (As an aside, I believe another factor affecting erosion in that area is the very shallow Wimble Shoals off of the Waves/Salvo area. It tends to push the heavy surf north/south of the shoal, the north part going toward the S-Curve area.) A similar area is at the north end of Buxton. An inlet existed there from prior to 1585 to about 1657. It was called Cape Inlet by some and Chacandepeco by Indians. And the narrow area at the north end of Ocracoke Island, just south of the ferry landing had what was referred to as Old Hatteras Inlet. It was there from before 1585 to about 1755. Finally Roanoke Inlet existed from before 1585 to around 1811 in the vicinity of Whalebone in South Nags Head. Not exactly coincidence that all these areas get frequent poundings and suffer erosion. They have for 400-plus years. Ted A. Hamilton (aka Salvo Jimmy) Salvo For years I have watched as my hometown has been destroyed by greed. Building on this stretch of road wasn't allowed for years until the tourists and their money started to stay. Obviously, these are not rocket scientists who are trying to build a house in the water. They really deserve what they get. I remember when houses started going up there, and my grandfather (Con Farrow) and my uncle (Rod Farrow) said that every one of those houses will wind up in the ocean. The builders should have listened to experience and listened to people who have lived and grown up on the water. I can count at least eight times that I know of that stretch of road has washed away. I also remember my grandfather telling me that if officials would sink some ships or build reefs around the lighthouse, it would cause a sandbar to form around the lighthouse and keep the water from washing it away, but they chose to move it. You cannot stop the water on that island and you never will, but you can do something to limit the effects of it. Why would anyone build a house that close to the water and not do something to slow the effect of erosion first? You can't build a house on sinking sand. I don't understand why the locals have stood by and watched what others have done to a little piece of heaven. Hatteras Island has become a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there. Now you can look and see what all the outside influence has done to that island all the way from Oregon Inlet to Ocracoke Island. Rent and real estate are out of control. Fishing is in jeopardy, along with driving on the beach, which is a way of life and a lifeline for some. Don't you think it's time you locals take back your island? You've been sleeping for a long time? Do you have to wait until all the money and resources are gone before you wake up? Reid Mason Pensacola, Fla. These pictures are something else. I can’t see why the state doesn’t do something before it is too late. I love it there, but I am almost afraid to come. Good luck and don’t give up. John Workman Lynchburg, Va. I have lived on the Outer Banks for 35 years and have seen many a storm and so much erosion that it makes one wonder what could be the major change. In years back, we would have a storm and the beach would be gone, but before you knew it, the beach would be back. This isn't happening any more since they put that jetty on the south side of the Bonner Bridge. I have been to the beach and seen major chunks of the continental shelf broken off and washed up on the beach. We took a sample of one and had it sent to Raleigh to be examined. If they would remove that jetty, the major erosion would decrease at Rodanthe and also all the way down the island, as the jetty has a circular motion effect that travels down the coast. If you just read any of the books on beach erosion, you will come to the same conclusion. I am not an engineer, but I have studied this problem for years. I think the pressure needs to be on to remove that jetty. The powers-that-be in the state prohibit hard surfaces on the oceanfront, but there remains that jetty. Who are we protecting? Also building a bridge in the same place as the Bonner Bridge doesn't make much sense when you won't even be able to get to it in a few years. I have seen things done down here for every area but Hatteras. It is like we are the red-headed stepchild. I am married to a Hatteras Island native. The people who call this their home go back hundreds of years here. It is time to step up and say, “Enough is enough.” Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of this island. I am one who will take a stand. Who will stand with me? Go to the commissioners and the state representatives and let them know. Let your voice be heard. Stop letting just a few make these decisions for all. Sandy Quidley Avon I agree that the north end of Rodanthe holds the "key" for the rest of Hatteras Island. My dad brought me to Hatteras for Thanksgiving week in 1949, to visit Uncle Dudley and Aunt Delores Burrus and go duck and goose hunting. Except for a stretch during the middle ‘60s when a lot of us young men were in and out of Vietnam, I have been coming back to "The Island." I have watched the water reach closer and closer to the center of the island during those years and have been appalled that the county commissioners would vote for development over containment. What good are tax dollars if we cannot get there? I truly believe that if you polled every property owner from Salvo to Hatteras and asked for $100 each to buy north Rodanthe for purposes of island stabilization, you would get very few who would turn you down. We don't even own any property on the island, but would be happy to "pop" for $100 to help with the stabilization. And I believe a lot of folks who rent several weeks each year would do so also. Everybody talks about the bridge. But, if we loose North Rodanthe, the bridge does all of us no good. I have three first cousins and several other cousins still living between Avon and Hatteras and Highway 12 is their lifeline. NCDOT needs to do the "right thing." Condemn the properties! Pay the owners fair market value and stabilize that end of the iIsland. Richard Howle Richmond, Va. The answer to the problem is quite simple. Shut the political hacks up and let DOT build the long bridge like they have proposed. Otherwise we will continue to either drive through saltwater or sit and wait for DOT to remove the sand and water from the road. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service might even contribute to the cost of the long bridge to get the road and proposed bridges out of the refuge. Robert Teagarden Frisco Incredible slide show on Mirlo Beach. People need to see this to understand the challenges the Outer Bankers are confronting. Keep up the good work. Connie Mason Morehead City, N.C. Last year as we left after our wonderful week at Hatteras, this same house (Serendipity) looked pretty much as it does in the photos. The cars and trucks parked in the driveway were actually washing out into the road. And that was just from a small system moving through for that particular weekend. I'm surprised it's still standing. Lisa White Morganton, N.C. Thankful to be a surfer Wow! Great article and great slideshow. Way to keep us stoked on surfing. Refreshing to read such a well written, inspirational article on local surfing. Dan Kramer Buxton I saw Daniel Pullen and told him that those were the most amazing pictures that I have ever seen of our area. He is so talented. He made me feel as if I was riding the waves. It is wonderful that we live in such a beautiful place where everyday we can see the beauty that God has made for us and be blessed by His power. Daniel, I am grateful that God has given you such talent and that you share it with all of us. Waiting to see what wonderful things you show us in the future. God Bless your friend Robert. Rosa-Alice Mayo Hatteras It’s so refreshing to see someone (surfing columnist Daniel Pullen) with his priorities straight and willing to talk about it. Keep it up! Jeanie Wright Chesapeake, Va. Special Features: ‘Paws and Tails’: A short story I just finished Paws and Tails. I really enjoyed it. Diane Madara Ocean City, Md. Guest column on replacing Bonner Bridge I'm surprised that Jim Trogdon made no mention of the wind-related evacuation problem the long bridge could cause because of possible restricted and/or prohibited traffic during high winds. The almost identical length Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel is specifically not used as a storm evacuation route for that reason that restrictions start at tropical storm force winds of 40 mph and include large pickup campers, anything towed, and vehicles with car-top carriers. Ted A. Hamilton Salvo Glad to hear we are "putting our dukes up" and have the support from our elected officials. Obviously we elected the right officials! Mallory Gray Avon Thanking the community I would like to thank everyone who came out to support the music and musicians of the Frisco Jubilee this past year. Time and time again, you told us that you thought that this was the best kept secret on Hatteras Island. Every week musicians came together from Rodanthe to Ocracoke to perform in Frisco for appreciative audiences that were the best! Thanks to the Rodanthe show audiences for a warm reception too. Thanks also to Little Grove United Methodist Church for providing a warm, comfortable home for the Jubilee and Dare Building Supply for help with sign boards. Thanks to the musicians who performed every week -- Martin Garrish, Aaron Caswell, Jackie Willis, Speedy Price, Stash Lawrence, April Trueblood, Mahlon Blue, John Couch, Dave Barnett, and poet Johnny Baum -- as well as the many other local performers who contributed occasionally. I would be remiss if I didn't make a pitch for the CD “The Frisco Jubilee at Little Grove,” produced by Speedy Price, which would make a great Christmas gift for $15 plus $5 shipping. A portion of the CD proceeds go to Little Grove Church building fund. You can call 252-995-3540 to order. Bob Boyer Producer and Sound Technician The Frisco Jubilee The "Thanks for Giving" dance My family has had the distinct pleasure of having Capt. Richie Spears take us out in his boat for a day of fishing, clamming, and fun over the past few years. Our first time was when my boys (triplets) were 5. Richie is a natural with kids, and they have talked about their experiences for years. Our times with Capt Richie rate as some of the best times I have had with my boys. He is a very special man. We have some pictures and a donation that we wish to send to Richie. Could you please provide me with an address where we could send this package to him? Please let him know that he and Nikki are in our prayers and to please keep his charter schedule open for mid-June. Brian Tompkins Red Bank, N.J. (Editor’s Note: The address for Richie and Nikki Spears is Post Office Box 313, Hatteras, NC 27943.) The overwhelming turnout for the "Thanks for Giving" dance was staggering. I cannot begin to express my sincere thanks to all who donated or particiPated in anyway. I know Richie and Nikki Spears, the beneficiaries, feel the same way. It would be nearly impossible to mention everyone here, but you know who you are. Thanks again. Sydnee Slaughter Hatteras Surfing Hurricane Noel Nice pictures, Daniel. Keep up the good work! Ted Call Virginia Beach Hey, Dan! Those shots look great! We had a killer swell out here three weeks ago, but there's nothing better than seeing Hatteras breaking like it was. Please tell Scott that if you or anyone at Natural Art would like to escape to California for some time this winter, I'll gladly put some people up at my place. Natural Art is always welcome. Adam Reynolds Los Angeles, Calif. Daniel Pullen's photographs are amazing! Thanks for sharing the day. Paula Reynolds Stevenson, Md. Just beautiful! Breathtaking! Cheryl Rako Moyock, N.C. Hatteras holiday bazaar slide show Thank you for the wonderful pictures of the Christmas bazaar. Although I am in Florida for the winter, I felt like I was there enjoying all there was to see and of course, seeing people that I know, keep up the good work!! Vicki Fey St. James City, Fla. Looks like those Hatteras girls did it right again. Faye, I am so proud of you. Loved the picture of you! You definitely deserve a crown. I do so enjoy this publication. It is such a blessing. Vivian Gray Fort Myers, Fla. Clifford Swain sent me the article about the Methodist bazaar. I enjoyed it so much and enjoyed seeing the women involved, especially Billie Swain. I am so happy that your online edition is going so well. I understand that Buddy was greatly involved in the process. Hatteras is lucky to have all the Swains. They are some of my best friends from New Bern, now Hatteras residents. I don't get to see them as often as I would like, but do see them several times a year anyway. Keep up the great work with your paper. Betty Quinn Atlantic Beach, N.C. I thought I'd recognize some of the folks in the slide show, but they have all dyed their hair gray or white, just as I did. Stew Kellum Kernersville, N.C. Planning for the future of beach driving: Will the lawsuit have a chilling effect at the negotiating table? I fail to see a problem with the current beach driving plan. As the Park Service identifies areas of concern, they direct driving patterns around the area. What is wrong with this policy? This allows us to have a public-access beach and protect sensitive wildlife. Seems like a win/win to me. Charles Peele Frisco The beaches are what bring the revenue to our island. If you cut off the beach driving, you will be cutting off money. Vacationers will go elsewhere in a heartbeat. Carol Bradley Frisco This is a complex issue requiring thoughtful negotiations from all parties involved. Thirty- five years of surf fishing and driving on the beach aside, I want to protect the environment and shore species while still having access to the Point, North Avon, South Beach/Billy Mitchell area, and Hatteras Inlet. How's that for a being between a rock and a hard place? Also, driving on the beach will become less and less important to sportfishing families if we are unable to protect the species that keep us coming back. Robert Podolak Denver, Col. We have been coming to the Outer Banks for over a quarter of a century. During that time, we have seen an increase in ORV traffic on the beach. However, I can't recall many instances where the drivers were inconsiderate to people on the beach. It is only in the last few years that we have noticed roped off areas to protect turtles. Up until that time, we were not aware of the protection of turtle nests or of the protection of birds associated with our beaches Francis Toolan Martinsville, N.J. "Planning for the future of Beach Driving" was the best, most unbiased report of the situation I have read thus far. I hope that this type of reporting on all local issues is what we can expect from The Island Free Press. My question and comment: What is the Cape Hatteras Recreational Alliance and does it actually have any members? A quote from the article: “I think we have to move forward,” said Jason Rylander of Defenders of Wildlife, “and we can do it together or the courts and the Park Service can do it." If they truly wanted to do it together, then why file the suit? I am led to believe by their actions that they prefer the "courts and NPS." Rob Alderman Buxton The fishermen of the Outer Banks are the most in tune with the environment and respectful of it. The only down side I have seen in the six years of fishing around Hatteras is one instance of kids (17-18 years old) hanging on the outside of a jeep driving down the beach. The beach is not littered with trash or fish carcass, and there are unwritten rules of conduct that are enforced among the ORV owners. The beauty of the area, best realized at night when the stars are out, the surf's pounding, and fish are biting, offers a kind of peace to my spirit only found there. We all need someplace like this in our lives. A set of guidelines to utilize the beach is needed. It’s already in place. Just ask the fishermen, then write it down and enforce it! Jeno Cossette Wilson, N.C. Outer Banks Angler is awesome. This guy tells a great story, and Brazda's camera work is stunning, first-class art. Tune in to OBA with the sound down, crank up the Pearl Jam and drift away. Danny Couch Buxton Halloween in Hatteras village Thank you for the Hatteras village Halloween slide show. I worked until 7 that night, so I missed seeing a lot of the children. The pictures were the next best thing! Leslie Hickman Hatteras This is exactly why I adore living in Hatteras! Thanks for generously sharing all of these fabulous photos. Kristin Gray Hatteras A fishing trip to remember Wow, what a wonderful story! I enjoyed reading that so much. I can picture in my mind what the OBX must have been like back in those days. What a great story of the "good ole days!" I started going to Ocracoke as an infant in 1973. I have tried to go two or three times a year since then. I would love to read more old-time stories like this. Keeps us sane between visits! Thanks! By the way I was not able to put my current location because of the way the comment form is set up. I actually now live in Lima, Peru, where my family and I serve as missionaries. My hometown is Salem, Va. We aren’t able to visit Ocracoke as often now since we live in Peru. Although each time we are on furlough, we spend several weeks there. Your Web site is a great way to keep in touch with our favorite little island. John Poe Lima, Peru The story of the SS Chester Sun during World War II Well written and will be informative to a lot of people who had no idea this was taking place at that time. Nice article! Pete East Kill Devil Hills Enjoyed the story very much! I am the grunt behind the Web site, www.fleetsheet.com, which covers the history of the ships and sailors of the Sun Oil Company. Love to see others with the same love and determination to obtain information on the history of the ships and sailors who lost their lives from the brutal seas. Thanks! I will link this story on the website! Minor W. Kates, Jr. Lewes, Del. Guest column on gamefish status for red drum and striped bass The recent article by Ernie Foster was one of the best regarding the plight of commercial/charter fishermen and the fishing communities supported by them. More voices like his are desperately needed to better educate our regulators and government representatives on these issues before it is too late. I look forward to reading more. Thank you. Rita Merritt Wrightsville Beach This commentary was well written. I pray that many will read what Captain Foster said. Rev. Cory B. Oliver Hatteras I enjoyed the article by Ernal Foster. I had the pleasure of meeting him while I was down in October. In the picture of him, he was wearing a Day at the Docks hat. Does anyone have them for sale? I think that is a great event and plan to get down next year for it. If you know anybody who has them, could you let me know. John Holloway Berlin, Md. Here is something I wrote for our Nicholas Institute Web site: A Comment on the Oct. 20, 2007, Executive Order: Protection of Striped Bass and Red Drum Fish Populations. Marine fishery conservation always has two broad areas of objective and impact: 1) The biological objectives and impacts (how many fish, of which characteristics, come out of the ocean); and 2) the socio-economic objectives and impacts (who derives the benefit from those fish). President Bush's recent Executive Order prohibiting commercial sale of striped bass and red drum caught in federal waters runs a significant risk of confusing these two areas of objective and impact. President Bush referred only to the biological conservation impact of the Executive Order. In fact, the biological conservation impact will be minimal, but> the socio-economic impact will be substantial in terms of the allocation consequences. The vast majority of these two fisheries are conducted in state, not federal waters. Striped bass, managed largely by the states under the umbrella of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, is in fact one of the great success stories of successful recovery of the Chesapeake Bay and North Carolina stocks. The primary impact of the President's proclamation is to ALLOCATE the benefit of these fisheries in the federal waters to the recreational sector. Allocation is a perfectly legitimate objective in fisheries management, but the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act states that, "No (management) measure shall have economic allocation as its sole purpose"(MSFCMA, S. 104-297). While it is true that any fishing effort reduction may have biological conservation benefits, the primary effect of the President's Executive Order will in fact be socio-economic, a fact that is virtually ignored in the Executive Order and the related press releases. Finally, do we really want the President of the United States making detailed allocative fishery management decisions, or for that matter biological conservation decisions? We have quite an extensive system set up under the MSFCMA and the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act to make such decisions, with the full participation of stakeholders, the states and the public. Based on the history of direct Congressional involvement in such detailed decisions, we should be very cautious. But above all, we should be honest and straightforward regarding our real objectives and their impacts. Mike Orbach Duke University Marine Laboratory President Bush's Executive Order establishing recreational-only status for drum and rock should not surprise anyone. Look no further than Texas, Big Oil, Walter Fondren, the CCA, and our president. Walter Fondren, the extremely wealthy( thanks to America's driving public) heir to the Exxon fortune, started the CCA to make fishermen in the Gulf a red herring for the decline in some valuable inshore fish stocks. As Big Oil, ditched, diked, and polluted, valuable stocks, such as red drum and speckled trout, were suffering from a diminished amount of habitat and diminished water quality. Big Oil and the petro-chemical industry are the biggest water-borne polluters in this country. Rather than clean up their mess, which costs money, Walter, and a few influential friends (comprised of Big Oil men, and developers), concocted a brilliant scheme. If they pointed the finger long enough, and loudly enough, and had enough money to "buy" some science, then they could make commercial fishermen the fall guy for their waste, habitat destruction, and pollution. The organization they formed was the Coastal Conservation Association a.k.a. CCA. The CCA, Bush, and the oil industry are one and the same. Look at the who's who of oil, and you will see the same names pop up. Look at the money trail from the "science" that calls for diminished commercial fishing, and you will find Big Oil. Look at the coffers of many radical environmental groups that call for diminished commercail fishing, and you will find Big Oil. Let me give you one little "for instance." Exxon Corp. is the single largest polluter in America in the Exxon Valdez spill. The company that has posted billions in quarterly net revenue over the past few years has failed to pay one dime of punitive damages. They have paid more now, in lawyer fees, trying to keep from paying, than they were originally ordered to pay. Their spokesman has stated that it would be a "dangerous precedent" to pay a punitive damage penny for their corporation's gross negligence. Good people, this is the CCA, and this is the largest contributor to Bush and Cheney's election campaigns. As the American public sits by and watches Bush send jobs overseas, now we see our domestic food production sent overseas, along with jobs and tax base from our coastal communities. As I go about my daily routine (as routine as a fisherman's can be), people stop me at an increasing rate, and ask me how Bush could do this. America has paid the price for fish stock recovery. The recreational, commercial, charter/headboat sector pays every day for fish stock re-building plans with diminished regulatory catches or moratoriums. The stocks recover, and it's time to get rewarded for our conservation effort, yet a small sector of users ( the CCA represents less than 1 percent of American anglers) pays to have these resources placed in their control only. Do we know who the real loser in this debacle is? The American consumer! The people who want a great tasting, healthy, domestic, highly-regulated food source are the ones who get the really short end of this stick. America produces the most highly regulated seafood in the world. Tell your elected representatives to stand up for American fishermen. Tell them to say no to Bush, and the CCA. Britton Shackelford Manteo In this day and time, when it seems the dark cloud hanging over our fishery continues to grow, we should be thankful for people like Ernie Foster, who not only has a passion for fishing, both commercial and recreationial, but he also has concern for his fellow man. Paul Robinson Hatteras For most of his term in office, I have supported President Bush. His arrogance has gotten the best of him this time. His belief that he understands the implications of his actions has been made crystal clear now. He simply is listening to "his" people, and the rest of the country be damned. The best we can hope for at this point is to put continued pressure on our states not to follow suit. Question - forgive my ignorance on this point - can Presidential orders be overturned? It's time to tell the king he is naked. Will Hahn Richmond, Va. This is just another nail in the coffin of the independent commercial fishermen. I think the only immediate effect is excluding commercial fishermen from the EEZ (federal waters), but this is most definitely a harbinger of thing to come. I will never develop a taste for farmed striper. Bud Nelson Buxton Commercial fishing restrictions are inadequate even with the new federal policy. Commercial fishing close to shore is THE reason recreational fishing has become so spotty along the Outer Banks. Do I put recreational fishing above commercial fishing? Yes! And I'm not alone. It comes down to whom we elect. Thank God for George Bush. Hatteras residents who depend on what they catch for their daily bread ought to consider what they have done and are doing to deplete the coastal waters of fish populations that will take generations to recover. It's not just the recreation they've ruined. They've actually slaughtered an abundance that was one of North Carolina's treasures thousands of years before the Banks were even named. It's a shame the new legislation has come too late. Michael Gibbs Fincastle, Va. Ernie has hit the nail right on the head. I appreciate his views on this matter, and I, too, sincerely believe that with the existing laws and controls in place on both federal and state levels, commercial fishing and sportfishing can live and co-exist in harmony. John Morgan Washington, N.C. I was raised on the Outer Banks of North Carolina and am a fourth generation commercial fisherman. I am saddened by the politicians -- federal and state representatives -- who in their interest and the interest of those who support them seem to completely want the commercial fisheries removed to support their pleasure. Fishing has been a way of life for me, and seafood has been a staple of my diet and shall be as long as I am able to catch it. Man has absolutely no right to deprive another of a right to feed his family from a profession God provided him. If I catch a drum in my net in November, I will preserve him, with salt for future use. I support both commercial and sport fisheries and the only way both can survive is to work together and support each other. Lionel Gilgo Beaufort We've all sat back for a number of years listening to the so called sportfishermen complain about the commercial fishermen overfishing and destroying fish. We can read about a sewage spill in the Triangle area very often. These spills feed into the Neuse River, from there to Pamlico Sound. The Neuse River is dead as far as fishing, and the Pamlico Sound is dying. The commercial fisherman is a dying breed, not because of overfishing, but because of pollution. Try telling that to Manteo, Swan Quarter, Bayboro, Beaufort, Raleigh, and Washington. No one cares about anything but keeping the tourists and builders happy and bringing in more revenue. Money is the name of the game. I've been saying for some time that commercial fishing was dead. They haven't had the funeral yet, but the politicians -- federal, state, and local -- are lining up the pallbearers. Carl Pollard Sea Level Before asking people to vote on an issue, it would be more appropriate to publish the exact proposed rules so people could determine the total effect on both commercial and recreational fishing. Currently, recreational fishermen can't possess either species in federal waters, so there is no effect on recreational fisherman. What are the current federal regulations on commercial fishing for drum and stripers? And how does the verbal blunder by Bush change anything? Gene Goodenough Hatteras I'm a commercial fisherman from our state of North Carolina. This past week, President Bush, with a stroke of the his pen, took two species of saltwater, federally managed fish, striped bass and red drum, off the table of all citizens of our country unless you are wealthy enough to own or charter a boat to fish in federal waters 3 to 200 miles offshore. Basically it means that only white elite get the resource. And no one else. All Americans own this natural resource not just a chosen few. As a commercial fisherman, I could give access to all citizens who don't own boats or have enough money to charter. We have tons of regulations, and Americans are losing their access to America's natural resources from the President’s policies. In 2008, the United States will give away over 1,500 metric tons of swordfish from our quota. This is just an example of what the Bush administration is doing -- exporting our natural resources. Please help us, the American consumer, and what left of the commercial fishing industry. Call your elected officials. This type of continuing destruction must stop. Dewey Hemilright FV Tarbaby Wanchese Ernie Foster’s letter on the forced extinction of the commercial fisherman is on the mark. The CCA has millions of discretionary dollars to throw at our state and federal elected officials. This greatly influences our legislators thought processes, such as the Coastal Recreational Fishing License and the Fisheries Reform Act Of 1997, both of which will ultimately spell doom for the commercial fisherman, the goal of the CCA. Commercial fishermen don't have the time or money to pay elected officials, so until our lawmakers in Raleigh wake up and acknowledge the planned crucifixion of the working waterman by one selfish user group (CCA), the commercial man will continue to get less, and in time his culture and heritage will be lost forever. As an outsider (I grew up in Raleigh.), I can't believe how coastal representatives can go to Raleigh and allow this to happen. The North Carolina legislature has passed the buck to the state Division of Marine Fisheries, which, in turn, passed the buck to the director of Marine Fisheries, who now wants the power to implement (proclaim) any federal fisheries plan, which he would have a hand in developing since he sits on federal councils. Director Louis Daniels wants to kiss our states’ rights away (and due process) and implement any plan his old boss (Preston Pate, now a National Marine Fisheries employee) wants him to. Cozy, isn't it? If the readers of this letter don't care about the fact that one unelected official (Director Daniels) has the power of king and don't care about the fact that our own elected officials are allowing the commercial fisherman to be regulated into extinction, be prepared to lose your centuries-old heritage forever and to eat a tasty, not-so-fresh frozen seafood product from a foreign country. James Reibel Manteo Ghosting hunting on Ocracoke Your article about Ocracoke ghosts reminded me of my own Ocracoke ghost story. In October, 2002, my husband and I rented the bottom half of "Paul's Place," which is at 328 British Cemetery Road on Ocracoke. Lots of strange stuff happened during our five days. The first night, we felt something jump on our bed, like a cat. Nothing was there. I also heard something fall, like a nick-knack off a dresser, but I found nothing on the floor. One evening, my husband and I were watching TV, and we saw this black shadowy thing dart down the hallway repeatedly. The payoff came on the last night we were there. The power went out during the night. We had never turned on the front porch light. In the morning, the power had come back on, and the front porch light was on. A painting was lying on the floor, face up. The house is surrounded by cemeteries, and I think a pet is buried in the front yard (a stone with the name "Pepper" is under a tree), so it didn't surprise us we had "company." Does anyone know the history of this house? I've been intrigued by this whole episode for a while now. I regret not trying to make contact with any spirit who was there at the time. Thanks for the great Web site. Abbey Scott West Chester, Pa. I was somewhat stunned by the photos showing the orbs. I also have photos in my possession with orbs present. I' |
