> we share that tangential relationship with divers, board > surfers, waterfowl hunters, recreational fishermen, commercial fishermen, > water skiers, swimmers, wind surfers, sailors, etc. That's a point that is being missed by a lot of people --- in most states, navigable waters are held in public trust, meaning they are for everyone to use, and are in effect public property. To exclude anyone would be discrimination. Sure, I like to have the water to myself, and so does everyone else. There are just plain too many people to accomodate everyone's wishes. That's one of the reasons that waters are held in public trust -- to keep one group from barring all others from using "their" waters. If you have a gripe with a particular type of craft, lobby to correct the craft's shortcomings, or to lower speed limits on particular bodies of water. It is possible to build cleaner-burning power craft (They did it with cars!), and add mufflers, and fuel and oil spillage safeguards. Nobody wants to spend the money to do it, and nobody wants to pay the taxes required to enforce it. So back to the beginning we go..... As nice as it may be to have an "X type of craft only" area, it sets a dangerous precedent for the future. At least that's how I see it. Wayne Smith wsmith16_at_charter.net Check out my website! http://webpages.charter.net/wsmith16/home.html *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Thu Mar 25 2004 - 14:16:35 PST
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