Herald & Lantern 26 October '83

29

sports

outdoors with Lou Rodia

Salt Water License Threat Raised Again

Ihe spectre of a salt water fishing license is looming on the horizon This time the license is shaping up as a federal one—being sponsored oddly enough by a congressman from the midwest. What the bill proposes is a license for persons to fish in tidal waters to be issued under a uniform state licensing program If a state does not have a salt water license, however, the Federal Government would issue one. The yearly license as suggested would not exceed $3 plus reasonable agents’ issuing fees. Increases on an annual basis would be permitted based on increases in the consumer price increase. Exempted would be persons fishing from licensed fishing boats and piers. A special license would be required for boats and piers. That license would be not less than 1500, meaning that every party and charter boat would be hit with an automatic $55 increase in cost, at least. So would every fishing pier. What is missed in this exemption is the clear understanding that unlicensed persons could then fish on boats and piers while licenses would be required of all others. Court tests would probably determine the legality of this exemption, but the opinions we have had so far make it unlikely that this exemption would bold up in court. THE BILL nicely limits administration and enforcement activities to not more than 30 per cent of what is collected by the states from the tax. One of the problems with the existing marine program at the state level now is that enforcement gets low priority and administration never seems to get shorted, so we can expect to see little, if any real efforts at enforcing the laws which are in place at present or which might be passed at a lata* date. As usual the proponents of the license are long on telling us bow the money is to be spent. Ostensibly, the money is to go to marine recreational facilities, meaning we suppose, ramps, piers and marinas as well as surf and beach areas. For starters, that means competition for private business and that means we will be paying for fishing facilities we do not want or need , so that some one else will think they got them for nothing. Scientific research relating to the management of the recreational fishery is another place the funds would be earmarked. We have argued before that research for marine fisheries should be paid for by the beneficiaries. Recreational fishermen who are already taxed to death are just one of the beneficiaries of a good fishery. THE SHORTAGE of striped bass, for example, is being felt by a large number of fishermen. Sure we’d like to see lots of stripers. Who wouldn’t? However if the striper fishery bounces back who are the real beneficiaries? There are many. Obviously, boat and tackle manufacturers will benefit.

So will the commercial fishermen, the retail and wholesale fish markets, trucking companies, restaurants and restaurant suppliers and of course, marinas, liveries and tackle and bait shops. Around the edges, others who benefit , are secondlevel suppliers such as the ice, gasoline and oil distributors, the people who make and sell the boxes commercial fish are shipped in, the liquor and ‘beer sales people (fishermen are known to tipple a little at times) and clothing and outerwear manufacturers and sellers, to mention a few. All of these things produce jobs which relate to income tax. Each taxable sale reflects in sales taxes generated into state coffers. Liquor, gasoline and cigarette taxes all go to the state. As more striped bass appear on the scene it becomes obvious that only a small portion of the benefit goes to the recreational angler. Yet the tax to make striper fishing better lands totally on Ins back, if you accept the premise of a salt water license. IF YOU BELIEVE that the user should pay, then all of the above are already paying plenty, because the biggest beneficiary of a viable fishery is government, itself which taxes any and everything we do relating even remotely to fish and fishing. Since government is the biggest beneficiary, than it is obvious that general funds should be used to finance fishery research programs. By this reasoning, all who benefit will have paid their share. Protection, maintenance and enhancement of marine habitat important to continued production of fish and their food sources is another area where the money would be assigned. What this means is that the fishing license (tax) would be used to clean up polution, of which only a miniscule amount might even begin to be traced back to recreational users of the water. It was not commercial or recreational fishermen who polluted Delaware Bay or Chesapeake Bay. Cleanup estimates for Chesapeake Bay top $1 billion right now if all pollution were to cease immediately. Now, you, the fisherman, is being asked to contribute even more dollars in the form of a tax to fish to help clean up the mess to give you back what you already had in the first place if it had not been messed up. New Jersey's Senate Bill 1399 prevents passage of a salt water license unless that legislative act is changed first, meaning that license proponents in New Jersey have a twopronged fight to get a license here. In Maryland and Virginia, the move is to license fishermen on both sides of the Chesapeake with a two-state license, and that is being discussed quietly so that the antilicense people in those states do not build up a bead of steam to oppose it. WE HAVE written much in the past about the salt water license and we will be writing more. For now, be alert to the fact that HR

2965 is introduced, and at present is m the Committee of -Merchant Marine and Fisheries. You can start now to voice your opposition. First, and foremost, write letters. Sure, it is a nuisance and as soon as you put this paper down, you’ll forget it. But your letters can and will make a difference. Write Cong. William F. Hughes, (D-2nd District) 341 Cannon Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515 and

tell him you oppose passage of HR2965. Tell him why, if you so desire. A second phase of the antilicense fight is to write to any other Congressman you might know or write to daily or local papers and fishing publications to register your protest with them. Tell your friends to write also. The third place you can be effective is to lobby your fishing clubs or any other organizations you belong to

to get them to oppose the license. Get individual club members to write Cong. Hughes expressing their opposition. Cong. Hughes, incidentally, has opposed a salt water license in the past and to date has not indicated a change in his position. Write now!!!! REPORTS: Fishing continues along at a merry pace. Sea base, blackfish. some porgies, lots of bluefish and a scattering of fluke all add up to good

fishing. Weakfish are In the surf, back bays and along the ocean front with the heaviest action centering on the Great Egg Inlet and south to Townsend’s Inlet. Delaware Bay has plenty 6f weakfish to be caught. Big blues are also in the bay and are providing fishing action. Anglers are advised to call their favorite skipper to learn the sailing schedules.

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