Page A10 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, An open Jetter to: Rob Brown, The Skeena Angler Dear Sir: One of my cronies, referred 10 in your Oct. 14 column, called to let me know that my name had been mentioned thercin, I am pleased that he called otherwise I would never have known cven though I do subscribe to The Ter- race Standard. After reading your article I con- tacted my cronics, who have lived and fished in this area including Lakelse River long before you were bor, to gather some non- pscudo factual data. * The first Lakelse Lake flood, known to native elders who were here at the fime, occurred in 1935, This was tot a localized flood and I can bear witness to this as I lived at Port Essington at the time and can recall seeing whole islands of trees, still stand- ing, rifting wp and down the Skeena River as the tide cbbed and flowed. * In 1952, Mr. Joe Martell of the Department of Fisheries, built a fish counting fence downstream ‘from Herman Creek. It was con- structed of sheet piling and rocks taken from the river bed. The De- partment of Fisheries personnel were very obliging and built in a ‘roller’ at the top of a section of the fence in order to enable us cronies to get our boats over the fence, (Few motors in those days.) * The fish fence was removed in 1959 when it became apparent that gravel build up against the fence was causing an obstruction to the river’s normal flow. In Mr. _Martell’s own words, and I quote, “The site was graded level witha, bulldozer, the rocks being pushed against the banks.” ; * Bulldozing to remove the fence had no detrimental effect on the Lakelse River as fish counts in the next few years indi- cated pink returns were triple / ra - LETT Crony takes on the A amounts of gravel which has cre- ated Herman Bar. My pscudo- scientific hokum believes this is happening because Herman Creek flash foods before the lake rises to a level where it could wash some of the gravel emanat- ing from Herman = Creck downstream. An additional outlet at the mouth of Herman Creek would ease the velocity of the flow now taking place from its only outlet. * Prior to about 1960, Herman Bar did not exist which means the outlet of Lakelse River at Herman We cronies have known the value of the Lakelse Lake and River system long before you wet your first line, Mr. Brown, and have no desire or intent to destroy this valuable resource. 1959's 185,000 in 1962, and reached 1,2 million in 1964. It appears that runs increased in the two and four year cycles. * Herman Creek, back before you, Mr. Brown, arrived in Ter- race, had three outlets in the Lakelse River. In 1952, it had two outlets. It now has one. I°ll inject a litde pseudo-scientific hokum at this point by saying this could have been caused by a combina- tion of the fish fence, logging in this watershed, and flash floods. Consequently, flash floods at ‘Herman Creek now deposit large Bar has been reduced from ap- proximately 150 feet to approxi- mately 50 feet. You have heard the old saying that a picture speaks a thousand words; well, us cronies have photographs that show clearly how the bar has, grown year after year and by some pscudo-scientific coin- cidence flooding at Lakelse is becoming more and more fre- quent. * The next major flood after 1935 was 42 years later (1978), and then 14 years after that .in 1992. However, the years be- tween 1978 and 1992 have been just at borderline flood stage. Using my above ground base- ment floor as a gauge, I have been within a half-inch to one and a half inches of flooding many times since the 1978 flood. We were fortunate in 1992 that there was no new snowpack in the mountains or flooding wouid have been far worse and will be- come worse in future years. * The residents at Lakelse have never advocated “‘dredging’’ and most certainly not altering the depth of the channel at Herman Bar. ¢ We cronies have known the value of the Lakelse Lake and River system long before you wet your first line, Mr. Brown, and have no desire or intent to destroy this valuable resource. Among my occupations during my lifetime, I was a commercial fisherman. Prior to going over- seas in 1943, as was my father, we fished the ‘‘mouth” of the Skeena for years. * Bulldozing the river in 1959 did not harm fish runs in sub- sequent ycars and J do not see why it should now. , + T would also like to inform you, Mr. Brown, that our flood- plain dwellings were notin a floodplain when the government subdivided Lakelse Lake into residential lots back in 1910 to provide a townsite when it was thought that Kitimat was to be- come the terminus of the Grand Freedom from persecution is the real issue at stake Dear Sir: I can sympathize with Tom Brophy’s frustration (letter to the editor, Oct. 7/92) at the encroach- ment that Sunday shopping has placed upon his freedom of reli- gion. J also understand the moral -°:..: dilemma of Christians who fecl oppressed by having to work on the day that they would Jike to have off. ; What Brophy is describing in his letter is exactly what I and others who observe another day of worship other than Sunday have faced in the past due to legislation which limits one’s freedom of religion in the work- place. The gist of Brophy’s letter sug- gests however that he is not aware that when he argues for his religious freedoms, he is in fact limiting the freedoms of others, especially when he sees the solu- tion to his problem to legislation of no shopping on Sundays. The enactment of Sunday laws have ‘been shown to create prejudice in the market-place against Sabbath observers. Hundreds of thousands of Seventh-day Adventist over time, have lost their jobs because of the oppressive laws which prohibit employment on Sunday in liew of a Saturday-Sabbath rest, Prior to his conversion experi- ence, Brophy (at that time an ag- nostic) writes that he angrily con- sidered Christians who limited his WATCH FOR SPORT WERLD ‘The enactment of Sunday laws have been shown to create prejudice in the market-place against Sabbath | observers. personal freedom ai “blue-nose Christian bigots,’’ Now, as an en- lightened Christian, I trust that he would not treat others who do not agree with his religious views in a similar fashion by foisting upon such people restrictive Sunday legislation. ], and fellow Seventh-day Ad- ventists, do not seek to secularize Sunday to make it difficult for our Sunday-keeping brethren, but the matter of which day to ob- serve must be left to the individu- - al conscience, and what people ought to be allowed freedom to rest and worship, without the threat of economic or social pen- alty because of their choice. Again I reiterate: the solution is not that of legislating people to keep the same day of rest/worship. A suggested solution to the problem is to encourage labour unions to change thelr collective agreement policy which limits employers to hire part-time workers. This practice forces employers to ask their workers to work overtime when business hours are extended, as well as create shift work schedules that overlap the weekend. sag It should be noted that labour unions have at the same time joined with religious interests to call for the enforcement of Sun- day closing. Some view this a3 hypocritical, If the labour move- ment is interested in the welfare of the common man, why would it oppose free will Sunday employment? It is suggested that if labour unions would accept that employers may hire part-time workers from time to time, then ‘ Sunday shopping might become a non-issuc. In fact, Sunday retailing would provide considerable economic help for those who otherwise are totally unemployed. People reading Mr. Brophy’s letter may see that he is asking for justice, but it is sad if what he really means is “just us.”’ The principle of freedom of religion should prevent the state from enacting laws which give an ad- vantage to one religious grouping over another. In fact, Sunday- Jaws symbolize historical oppres- sion of religion. L invite your readers to support , the principle of freedom from re-. ligious persecution in the work-* place, a policy which would serve the purpose from all religious groups. Sincerely, Ulrich Unruh, Pastor Terrace Seveth-day Adventist Church Terrace, B.C. — Deloitte & Touche . . A FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES? ‘Call us to arrange for a free consultation and a copy of our information booklat (604) 564-1111 Toll Free: 1-800-663-5103 DELOINTTE & TOUCHE INC. #800 - 299 Victoria Street Prince George, B.C. V2L 5B8 INTRODUCING OUR...... SUNDAY BREAKFAST BUFFET Every Sunday from 10:00 am til 2:00 pm FEATURING.. EGGS++BACON++5AUSAGE WAFFLES++MUFFINS++HASHBROWNS ‘FRESH FRUIT++ and of course our ERS | ngi More on Sunday opening Dear Sir I am tuly sick and tired of people insinuating that the businesses ‘that stay open on Sundays and religious holidays are doing so in direct violation of ‘“God’s Saws’? and for that matter man’s laws, too. (Tom Brophy, letter to the editor, Det. 7, 1992.) If it is a case of disobeying God than the people who are making the decision to remain open on Sundays will be held accountable at a later date. If these businesses can pay ‘the fines given to them for remaining open that that tells me that encugh people are shopping on these days to make it worth while. “The Big Four,’’ as the larger stores in our community have becb referred to, have paved the way for smaller, lo- cal businesses lo remain open on these days as well. As far as [’in concerned, this is a benefit not only to these smaller businesses, but to those people -who work six days a week and can shop on Sundays. -1 do not understand how so many people can say in one sentence that they want to sup- port local businesses, and in the very next breath say they refuse to support those businesses that area remaining open on Sundays. If that doesn’t teach our children er Trunk Pacific railway. I reside.on - one of these lots. _ * The 1988 study, prepared by + PJ, Woods of the . Special Projects Section of the Ministry of Environment and Parks, states _ it'did not have adequate: records - of the Lakelse system when they did their study (see par 3.0). Con- sequently, they used data from the Zymacord River and corre- Jaied this information to the Lakelse system. This might be considered. ‘‘pseudo scientific’ and the accuracy of this study could be questioned. * If fish spawn on Herman Bar al its present elevation, the spawn would not survive the winter be- cause it would be anywhere from two to four feet above the low level of the Lake during the winter and the spawn would freeze. a * A fetter dated June 22, 1989, from Allan W. Woody, Manager of the Terrace Ministry of the Solicitor General, Provincial Emergency Program, to Mr. Brian Fuhr, Regional Habitual Biologist, Ministry of the En- . vironment, states as follows, and i quote: , “(On Saturday, April 29, 1989, the Honourable David parker, | MLA, Mr. Wilf Dreher, Ministry of Environment, Mr. Lloyd Johnstone and I took a helicopter ride over Lakelse and Herman Creek estuary. The purpose of our trip was to establish if local flood conditions were to the degree that necessitated Water Management appraisal. As a result of that par- ticular trip, it was: generally | wisted valucs, than what agreed that the Herman Creek does? _. Gravel Bar, significantly played a Furthermore, who is to say. role: in. high water conditions. which religious holidays This factor greatly increases the should be taken as days of level of . food risk to the rest? ‘homeowners in the. Herman -. Creek and Lakelse area.”’ . Like us cronies at Lakelse Lake, you ate entitled to your opinion Mr. Brown, but until you know all the facts regarding this issue, I It is time for everyone to stop using religion when it is a con~ venient tool in a battle, whether it be big or small. Tam not meaning to imply that there are not people who really do believe in what they are taught, but think that you have to ask yourself if you are justifiably ‘outraged, or taking up another “good cause,” If Sunday and holiday shop- ping bothers you so much, you don’t have ta do it. Chris Adam Terrace, B.C, - audience. ; Yes, we were all wet September _ 29, 30 and October 1, 1992, but we have dried out again. We may "be down but we are not out! Yours truly,» W.A. (Sandy) Sandhals Lakelse Lake, B.C: "a, | qu ny ' BUREAU . VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES OF THE WEEK URGENTLY NEEDED. A volunteer to sit with an elderly lady at Twin River Estates, to provide respite for her caregiver. Tues., Thurs, & Sat. 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Three volunteers needed to take turns, one day per week. Can any Seniors help us with this? 4506 Lakelse Avenue phone 638-1330 (across from Totem Furniture) Your Source For B.C. Government Legislation AND SELECTED MINISTRY PUBLICATIONS B.C. Ministry of Energy, Mines & Petroleum Resources Publications and Maps B.C. Ministry of Education Curriculum Guides & Resource Books B.C. Ministry of Forests Reports # B.C. Legal Manuals # Trade Manuals & Codes “Topographical Maps # Nautical Charts , Other Selected B.C; Ministry Publications ~~ 2. 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