THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, January 1, 1996 TAG: 9512290007
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
This time last year, the watermen of Tangier Island and their families were disappointed and depressed. After going down to Cape Charles every week to dredge for crabs, the men would return with barely enough money to pay for expenses.
But now, a year later, there is plenty of evidence that the crab population is rising. The majority of the men have been catching their limit often; last year, no one was able to catch that many. That fact alone is enough to get any community like Tangier excited!
Unfortunately, there is also apprehension. All residents of the island, whether watermen or not, are well-aware and unsupportive of the regulations proposed by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Most island residents agree that some regulations are needed, but not such strict ones as those being considered.
The island has depended on the surrounding waters for its existence since its early settlement. But now that heritage is being jeopardized, and along with it the island's future.
That is why the senior class of Tangier Combined School is taking action. The 12 students, along with government teacher Dewey Crockett, principal Denny Crockett and the local Watermen's Association, are starting a letter-writing campaign to Governor Allen's office. We are encouraging people to write to the governor in support of less strict regulations on the harvesting of crabs and to point out that there are less harsh solutions that would benefit the crabbing industry. We hope lots of people will write.
MIRIAM F. ESKRIDGE
SHELLI CROCKETT
Tangier, Dec. 20, 1995 by CNB