Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 5, 1993 TAG: 9306050194
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
I am one of the Jackson River landowners who can trace my land and river back to a grant from the King of England. I also admire what J. Robert Fleshman is trying to do. Evidently, not all landowners were invited and rejected the reconciliatory invitation, as my husband and I never received an invitation.
I also understand the irritation the trout fishermen feel in being unable to fully use the promised trout fishery below the Gathright Dam. It is my opinion that they should be upset with someone, but I do believe that someone should be the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
It is my understanding that the department promised the downstream (fishery) to fishermen who were upset with losing the good trout waters that Lake Moomaw displaced. The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries had no authority to give the (fishery) to them, and now the fishermen are having to legally earn what they thought was theirs.
Where do I stand on all this? I don't really know. At the beginning, I was against the Gathright Dam and still think it should not have been built, but that is no longer a choice. Now who has more rights and is more deserving: 100 trout fishermen armed with promises or 100 men, women and children swimmers armed with deeds?
This situation should never have occured, but since it did, we need to sit down and come up with a fair and even, if not popular, solution. So I say Fleshman's extended hand should not have been slapped. We need more effort to solve this problem. If I had known Fleshman's address, this letter would have been addressed to him.
NORMA B. MEEKS
COVINGTON
by CNB