Editor,

Regarding the purported possible limiting of fishing and crabbing at the South Whidbey Marina, I make the following observations and comments.

I spent the last 20 days at my place in beautiful Langley over the Christmas holidays. I made approximately 10 fishing trips to the floating docks and spent countless very enjoyable hours in that pursuit there. During my time there on the docks I had a lot of treasured interaction with visitors and locals. I even had my picture taken with a large entourage from China who were thrilled with the whole idea that we, the people, would have the freedom to fish off the docks.

While I was there I observed little fishing activity and saw about 10 crabbers who would come down to the docks for 20 minutes to check and rebait their pots. I saw many tourists who were just curious and enjoyed the great scenery.

If you must impose yet another restriction on our freedom please consider that one of the intents of the floating docks is, or should I say was, to bring people into the area for a time to shop in town and enjoy it as well. The last time I checked I am in fact “people” and I travel over 2,000 miles three times a year to come to Langley to thaw out and to enjoy the island and all it has to offer. In doing so I also help to grow the local businesses there.

It is so important that we have places in town where we can connect and have interaction and exercise our freedoms. Please reconsider and if you must impose restrictions please consider trying them on for the summer months only if it is in fact too crowded at that time.

Thank you

JEFF ALLING

North Pole, Alaska