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V01 13 ^ 39 WEEK OF APRIL 5 TO APRIL 11. U79 .Ti..* Oil, Boating & The Canadian Trade

By Ui Woods Cape May County's most important industry — tourism — stands to suffer a serious setback if gas rationing goes into effect this summer, according to Cape May County Department of Public Affairs Official Lou Rodia. Of special concern to County officials and businessmen is what effect gas rationing will have on French Canadian tourists who normally represent 25 percent of the county-wide summer trade. And, the boating industry is wondering how gas shortages will effect boat sales and fishermen. "Boaters are readjusting their thinking at the moment," according to Lou Rodia, the Assistant Director of the Public Affairs Department. "There are boats for sale all over the place, I know people who have put their boats up & blocks and won’t be gotyig out at all this summer. They tell me they'll fish from docks or they'll use the party boats." "If gas rationing goes into effect customers are going to have to decide whether they'll use the gas for their boat or car," said Bill Cathcart, President of Deschamps Boat Yard in Stone Harbor. "My customers are concerned over supply—not the cost of gas. They expect the price to go up. I’m noticing more interest in smaller boats that use less gas. A lot of people are converting to sailboats, or talking about selling their power boats and getting smaller boats." The big fuel users are the sport fishermen, according to Cathcart. The 35-40 foot

boats use about 250 gallons of fuel for a fishing trip. There is big interest now inthe 25 to 30 foot range boats. “We expect the sources of our income will change," said Cathcart. "A lot of people are fixing up th# boats they have rather than buying the newer boats. Most boats today are made of fiberglass and the fiberglass resin is made from petro chemicals. Those prices are going up—which means boats are costing more." As far as the French Canadians are concerned, inflation is hurting their vacations. According to Rodia, the rate of exchange automatically penalize them. "$1,000 in Canadian money is only worth $810 in American purchasing power. They are paying 19 percent more to buy what French Candians travelling the 580 interstate miles from Montreal to Cape May County won’t be able to get here on a single tank of gas. If gas stations are ordered to close on weekends, where would a Canadian get his fan belt changed or other repairs, Rodia asked. Cape May County opened a year around downtown Montreal office in November 1977 to cultivate French Canadian tourism, and the county allotted $40,000 to $45,000 last year promoting Cape May County vacations, hitting trdde shows all over Canada. "I was up to our Canadian office recently and people kept coming in and asking if they’d be able to get to Cape May County this summer," said Rodia.

"People are being made to panic." Many Canadians are campers and stay atthe 50plus campgrounds in the County. Campers make up about 8 percent of County tourists, according to Rodia. "They stay longer and spend more than motel guests,” he said. Rodia sees the gas crisis as having a devastating effect on the area. "Ihe Government is carving the heart out of the tourist business. Gas rationing will limit people from 200300 miles away. Our business from Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and New England will be affected.” On the other hand, many state residents who wouldn't ordinarily visit Cape May County may decide to come here rather than go to their accustomed vacation places. Captain Robert Hitchaer, owner of the Thunderbird, which runs fishing parties out of Cape Island Marine West in Cape May, thinks the gas shortage might bring him extra customers this summer. "Small boaters ntay not be able to get enough gas and will use the party boats. I’d like to think my business will be better because of the gas crisis, but I'm only guessing," be said. Captain Hitchner commented his fuel costs have gone up terrifically. "I just got a new boat and took it out for the first time last Saturday. "It's a twoengine boat with a lot of power. It goes twice as fast as my old boat. We burn diesel fuel—that’s increased 20 cents a gallon since we quit last year. And I understand diesel fuel took another jump."

OF BOATS AND GAS PUMPS Possible problems loom Tor the County’s recreational boating industry if the oil crunch continues to push up the price of fuel. A readjustment is now underway in boaters' ways of

thinking, says Lou Rodia.

His increased costs have made it necessary to charge higher fares for his customers. "I’ve just had to up the fares to $15 for an eight-hour trip,” he said. "Last year I was charging my customers $14.”' Captain Hitchner said he's worried many Philadelphians might not be coming down to Cape May County this summer or will cut back on the number of trips they’ll

make.

"If I just break even I’ll be tickled to death,” he

said.

‘ , There's going to be long lines at the pump, no matter where the tourists come from,” Lou Rodia

believes. "TJje country is going to have to start thinking ib terms of conserving what we have. Right turn on red saves some gas, but there’s a lot more we should be doing. ” He suggested officials might consider shortening traffic lights, for instance, so that idling cars are not wasting gas. ”We built all those aqper highways in the ‘60's and now we’re told to cut down to 55 MPH with the smaller cars. All the pollution controls on autos are contributing even more to the energy crisis. We’re pushing engines harder. Now six people who warn to go on a fishing trip can't all fit in a little car. We’re

burning more fuel to go where we want go.” Rodia noted there are normally 500,000 to 600,000 tourists in Cape May County on any given day in the summer, a phenomenal jump from the 70,000 year round count. "99 9-10 percent of those tourists come here by car," he said. It takes 12 gallons of gas to get from Philadelphia to down here. Once the fisherman arrives he finds his fishing rod cost has gone up, his line is up around $5-$6 now, his reel will cost $50. And that’s only the beginning. Tourists are going to be asking themselves how much they can afford."

What Will Be The Impact Of An Oil Crisis On Cape May County’s Recreational Boating Business?