Dear Editor: Re: May 14 News Sunday Focus (Fighting tor a share of the fish pie). Finally we have a face put on the concerns of recreational fishermen, and a champion to boot. In the latter regard, Bill Otway has long been a worthy advocate of the recreational fisherman” s rights (or lack thereof) and it's warming to see him involved once again, this time with an organization that is not only prepared to stand up and be counted, ut also to put their money and ours where our collective mouths are. The face to which I refer is of course instantly recognizable to most North Shore recreational fishermen as fishing tackle entreprencur Dave Steele, and he is a most welcome ally from our perspective. Your May 14 editorial) makes a passing reference to potential racial MAIL Box: Rights of sports fishermen ignored overtones in respect of possible inter- pretations of the posturing of the new Sportfishing Defence Alfiance (SDA). Admittedly there are those who would look for the slightest evidence of racism, even by mere mention of one or another of our ancestral races in any specific contest. {In regard to the need for sport- fishermen to stand up and be count- ed, there’s an inescapatde connection to the native ishermen’s rights, in part because of the government's mishandling of our First Nations® res- idency and rights trom the begin- ning. The position taken by Fisheries and Oceans has become untenable in thar everything must sow turn on those “inalienable” rights. There is and must continue to be room for everybody to share the fish stocks, if anyone suffers, then we must all bear the impact proporiion- ately. But proportionately by what measure? If recreational fishing accounts for 5% of the stocks, then that is the degree to which sportfishermen should be impacted with any regula- tory change, no more no less. And, by the way, this also impacts on some of our native friends — there are those that do not necessari- ly rely on the treaty process and tra- ditional needs but take out a sport- fishing licence and sporttish right along with the rest of us. None of us should be so misguid- ed as to try to place blame at the natives” door — it is our legislators who have done them and us wrong from the start. When, as your editorial correctly points out, the billions. of dollars spent on recreational fishing in eur economy are considered, this merely underlines the folly and ignorance dispiaved by our friends at Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Those with whom we fish have politely listened with growing impa- tience to the arguments put forward over the years, as the projections ume and again have failed to measure up to ceality. And time and again sport- fishermen have been at the front of the firing line. Our rights and interests have been essentially ignored but never the restrictions and prohibitions affecting us. One could possibly suggest that all the “natives,” not just those of the First Nations, are restless! Brian Coldwells President Lions Gate Anglers Club West Vancouver Dogs ruining public parks Fence is an eyesore Dear Editor: Re: Dog owners. The fact that there are numerous off-leash dog runs in North and West Vancouver that are officially sanctioned, does not seem to deter dog owners from letting their ani- mals make a nuisance of them- selves everywhere else as well. I have seen family picnics in public parks here ruined by Dogs stealing food, dogs frightening children, wet dogs shaking off over the potato salad. Their owners usually don’t seem to care. If children harassed their pets in this way, they would surely be outraged. The Mosquito Creek wail is the only safe north to south bike for children on the North Shore. Seven years ago this trail was declared “off leash” for dogs, with the provision that owners must have their pets under control. My daughter, who was 3 toddler ar the time, was knocked into a puddle by a dog on this trail the same week. Four years later, children on bikes were officially banned from riding down the tail, despite the fact that in most places it is wide enough to drive a truck. This bylaw is enforced by the dog people no marter how slowly the children ride their bikes. The children are now forced to ride in the heavy traf- fic on Delbrook, Westview and Larson avenues. Anyone, who has children and owns dogs, never forgets the difference benween them. Conversely, I believe that it is without exception that the people who make dogs the cen- tre of their world, di) not have anyone in their likes vho ever needs a ride to pia.» ‘essons or help with their homework. These people consequently have more time to attend city and district council meetings and therefore seem to get more attention focused on their ha istdependent, co-educational school, K to G9, expanding te GI2. Mulgrave fosters standards of excellence} in developing knawledgeable, confident, compassionate and! public spirited individuals interests. Children were once the responsibility of the communi- ty as a whole. Every successful society in history has put the welfare of its children first and foremost. The fact that dogs have more rights in our public parks than children, may say grave things about our future. Ed Fischer North Vancouver , Dear Editor: As I wait, more or less patiently, in the current morning bottlenecks in front of Park Royal, I contemplate the new fencing between the two lanes. It is an ugly eyesore, which may reduce jaywalk- ing, but, as I have noted, not always prevent it. It is poorly installed, not properly lined up, painted a garish green, and quite a shoddy piece of workman- ship. Please, someone, assure me that this is temporary and will be replaced by a beauti- ful hedge with Nowers along- side, as befits the entry to one of North America's most beautiful communities. Murray Lount West Vancouver Jount@condor-rebar.com Ther Finest “Imported F Purnitur “ EUROPEAN FURNITURE GALLERIES Store Hours: Mon-Sat 10-5:30 Sundays & Holidays 12:30-5 #118-4411 No. 3 Road, Richmond, BC Phone: 276-2252 Fax: 276-2042 f Aug 21-25 9 Aug 7-11 For students age 5-14 Cost: $50-$90 each VISUAL ARTS (S. Regehr) Jul 3-7 9:30-12 Creative ideas {S. Regetr) Jul 31-Aug 4 9:30-12 oc DraweFainteSculpt ages 7-9, 9-12 § . Cunningham) Jul3-7 7-9 9:30-12 oc 9-12 1-3:30 o¢ Building Bodies ages 7-9, 9-12 . Cunningham) 124-28 = 7-9 9:30-12 oc 9-12 1-3:30 oc hop age 9-14 Jult7-21 9:30-12 oc Watercolour Fainting age 9-14 (A. Munro} 1-3:30 oc Jul 17-21 ta! age 8-12 (R. 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