Published in Bernardsville News:
TO THE EDITOR:
In America, a tradition of access to public parks is
long-standing; to the contrary, fishing access for British anglers is
stringently the privilege of the rich with access to private lands. The irony is
that the brilliance of Izaak Walton, author of The Compleat Angler—listed
in the Western Canon of literature—came from a nation where fishing is elitist.
Here in America, we’re restricting fishing and making it elitist! Anyone
who buys a fishing license, or is exempt by age, always has been able—and
should be able—to fish. The American tradition is, however, threatened today,
and in Bedminster, people by the hundreds will lose valuable trout fishing
spots along U.S. Highway 202/206. Recently, the elimination of parking near the
pond was discussed at a Bedminster Township Committee Meeting.
Once New Jersey Department of Fish and Wildlife learns
that public access to the AT&T entry and exit stretch of the North Branch
Raritan River is limited, they will stop stocking trout there. No fish get stocked
where anglers don’t go. The AT&T stretch is not far downstream of
Bedminster Pond. (The pond situates along the river.) Any argument that anglers
can take the walkway in from River Road Park is a red herring. Pequest Hatchery
will learn that drastically fewer people find their way to where they would put
the fish—and stop stocking them there. Otherwise, what fisherman would protest,
knowing he could simply walk a few hundred yards longer to a river full of
trout no one else is fishing for?
Loss of access is happening elsewhere in New Jersey. Nationwide,
such loss means the American nation is becoming something else—not American. It
is too early yet to know if public space will become limited to the privileged
to such degree as to eliminate needed recreation for millions of people, but
loss of public access anywhere should be alarming.
Two stocking points on the South Branch Raritan River
will be lost this spring. Merrill Creek Reservoir recently adopted restricted
hours on public access. Hakihokake Creek in Milford, New Jersey, has lost
access at two former stocking points. None of these measures, nor that
discussed at the Bedminster Township Committee Meeting, have to do with safety
hazards. The highway near Bedminster Pond has a very wide breakdown lane, and
in addition to that, the gravel parking space beyond the pavement has plenty of
room for safe parking and backing up. For decades, people have parked and gone
fishing without any accidents occurring.
The Hike and Bike Trail came into existence long after
people had been fishing the AT&T stretch and the pond. None of the many of
us who remember when fewer people came through has ever been unwelcoming to
joggers, bikers, dog walkers, and the like along the trail, even though they
crashed the party that was underway long before the trail was extended and
paved. We anglers have never presumed to keep the river only to ourselves, but
we will never give up the value of our experiences at the AT&T stretch and
Bedminster Pond.
Bruce Edward Litton
