Hi Philip, You wrote, Some are surprised to find they don't own the beach. Others don't care: there are reports of an owner of an island in the Gulfs using a private security guard thug and a dog to run boaters off the public crown foreshore. Your referring to James Island. I believe the security guard/care taker has learnt his lesson. As I understand it the last incident involved his attempt to run off a kayaker who just happened to be a Provincial Crown Prosecutor. I've been told the lawyer collected accounts of the mans actions opened a file and sent a letter explaining the law and a polite request to desist or face the consequences. Last week I circumnavigated James Island with a group of friends we stopped along it's north shore for lunch and where observed by the guard as he made his rounds in his truck. He just kept on driving and didn't bother us. We stayed below the high water line. As an aside it may be that the owner of James Island has safety in mine. James Island was once the site of a very large munitions plant. Apparently much of the island is contaminated and could pose some very serious hazards to the unsuspecting person tramping over the terrain. This is truly an unfortunate circumstance for all as James is a very beautiful island of open meadows orchards, sand beaches groves of Arbutus, Gary Oak and scrub pine. Forest Island which is near by is now owned by a Montana millionaire who's very protective of his territory. This gentleman has posted, no trespassing above the high water mark, signs on trees along the island and employs a care taker guard who will climb into his utility boat and sit and watch as you approach the island. When this happen to myself and some friends I told him he's going to be a busy man if he has to do that every time a group of kayakers comes by. The island owner also asked the Federal Government about building a rock break wall. Unfortunately by the time the feds got back to him the wall was built. And when he wanted City water from Sidney he simply paid the $8,000 for the pipeline creating a precedent that will be tough to back away from when all the other islands want water. This wouldn't be an issue if we didn't have to ration water every year in the Sidney Victoria area. While he's no doubt trying to protect his sanctuary in fairness to the owner I suspect he's also afraid of potential fires. A fire on the densely treed island would run wild. Gordin *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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