To the Editor:

My family and I came to Alabama in 1969 as I was stationed at the former Craig AFB.

Before leaving California and after being stationed in many states plus overseas assignments, we were warned about Selma and all the discord and violence there.

To our surprise and relief we found the people to be friendly, and cordial. We bought a home in the country, I retired, and have stayed here.

We read and hear about robbery, rape, breaking and entering etc. every day now. There is another crime that virtually no one hears about and that is, STEALING ON THE ALABAMA RIVER. I have been told by Conservation Officers ‘fish belong to everyone,’ but when they are caught by any legal method, they belong to the person who caught them.

My son is a commercial fisherman. He purchases the required license to catch and sell his fish. Recently, he has had a problem with someone stealing from him. He has had many catfish boxes ‘pulled’ and fish removed from them. He and his son went “jugging” and someone took at least 17 of his “jugs.”

Any way you look at it, this is out and out stealing. When one person works hard and invests time, labor and money in order to provide for his family, it is very tragic when he gets robbed. If you read this and you are a sportsman, think about it.

Would you want someone to steal a part of your income?

Ferrell Beard

Burnsville

P.S. If you see someone doing something that doesn’t look right, question them.