Went to the Everett Eagle Hardware on Saturday to gather signatures with two other supporters of I696. We collected over 250 signatures and several nasty looks and insults from commercial fishermen and their wives'. The president of the purse seiners association even stopped by to tell us we were wasting our time and that last time they raised $1 million to defeat us (BAN, and that they will do it again. Then he went on to tell us how they don't have a by catch problem but wouldn't respond when asked when the last time was he live released a chinook from his net. There are only 1500 commercial fishing licenses in the state, that includes all types of net fishermen, gill, purse sein, bottom trawlers and trollers, so the next time you hear the argument that it will cost tens of thousands of jobs you will know the real truth. How many sports fishing related jobs have been lost due to declining fish runs from Alaska to California? Look at West Port and Illwaco and other costal cumminities that turned into ghost towns because of the declining limits and shortened seasons. "Never have so many lost so much for so few".Support I696 with time and cash, the time is now at hand to make a difference. Take your petitions around your neighborhood and to your place of work, even to the local watering hole but take it and get signatures and then mail it in. Thank you!
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"Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." Will Rogers