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This by-law process was initiated because of a letter from the Coast Guard “regarding individuals jumping off the pier. Injuries have occurred due to encounters with zebra mussels on the pier wall, and as a result the Coast Guard has been called upon to provide medical assistance.”
This morning I intend to go to town hall to obtain a copy of the missive from the Coast Guard. I’d like to know the nature of the injuries, were any toes, fingers or other body parts lost because of zebra mussels? How often was medical assistance required. What was the nature of the medical assistance? How much does it cost?
What are zebra mussels? “They're usually about fingernail size but can grow to a maximum length of nearly 2 inches. Zebra mussels live 4 to 5 years and inhabit fresh water at depths of 6 to 24 feet. A female zebra mussel begins to reproduce at 2 years of age, and produces between 30,000 and 1 million eggs per year. About two percent of zebra mussels reach adulthood.”
“In addition to threatening boats, zebra mussels pose a threat to navigational buoys, piers, docks, and other structures in the water. Navigational buoys have been sunk under the weight of attached zebra mussels. Wood, steel, and concrete are all damaged by prolonged attachment of the mussels.”
It would appear that some swimmers lacerate their hands or feet when they come in contact with the ladder rungs at depths below 6 feet. Would it not make more sense to put up a warning sign about mussels, publicize the nuisance so that swimmers and divers can take responsibility for their safety by wearing gloves or soft footwear.
Making a bylaw to prohibit swimming and diving from the pier is overkill. Bylaws live forever. Our day-to-day lives are smothered with the ten thousand commandments of bylaws. How many people walk in bare feet along the west beach and have hurt their feet in one way or another from the natural debris of the beach? If someone does, is the answer to pass a bylaw preventing people from walking in bare feet? Ludicrous? Think again.
During the late 40s the Rochester ferries arrived in Cobourg, a few strapping young boys were there to dive off the pier to catch the quarters the USAmericans threw off the boat as ut docked. The boys got to display their virility and bravery for a favourite girl, and if they were skilful enough, they got a couple quarters to take their girl to the movies.
When the ferries retired, young men would take off their shirts and dive into the inner harbour from the rooftop of the shed that was located where the Coast Guard currently roosts.
Nowadays, the focus of attention is at the end of Division Street. This is where teenagers continue the age old testing of their swimming skills, where the mating game fun takes place. This is the place where well-muscled men test their strength on their surf boards as they cast themselves into wind whipped waves.
Prohibiting forever this time-honoured fun of the young just to solve a very few lacerations seems a tad draconian. This proposed by-law reminds me of the inherent stupidity inherent in a Henny Youngman joke; Raising his hand high, the patient told the doctor that it hurt when he did that. The doctor replied, “Then don’t do that.”
There is more than enough DON’T DO THAT signage littering Victoria Park and waterfront. There are so many No Zone Layers that it is smothering all the spontaneous fun out of waterfront. Please, No More No.
This morning I intend to go to town hall to obtain a copy of the missive from the Coast Guard. I’d like to know the nature of the injuries, were any toes, fingers or other body parts lost because of zebra mussels? How often was medical assistance required. What was the nature of the medical assistance? How much does it cost?
What are zebra mussels? “They're usually about fingernail size but can grow to a maximum length of nearly 2 inches. Zebra mussels live 4 to 5 years and inhabit fresh water at depths of 6 to 24 feet. A female zebra mussel begins to reproduce at 2 years of age, and produces between 30,000 and 1 million eggs per year. About two percent of zebra mussels reach adulthood.”
“In addition to threatening boats, zebra mussels pose a threat to navigational buoys, piers, docks, and other structures in the water. Navigational buoys have been sunk under the weight of attached zebra mussels. Wood, steel, and concrete are all damaged by prolonged attachment of the mussels.”
It would appear that some swimmers lacerate their hands or feet when they come in contact with the ladder rungs at depths below 6 feet. Would it not make more sense to put up a warning sign about mussels, publicize the nuisance so that swimmers and divers can take responsibility for their safety by wearing gloves or soft footwear.
Making a bylaw to prohibit swimming and diving from the pier is overkill. Bylaws live forever. Our day-to-day lives are smothered with the ten thousand commandments of bylaws. How many people walk in bare feet along the west beach and have hurt their feet in one way or another from the natural debris of the beach? If someone does, is the answer to pass a bylaw preventing people from walking in bare feet? Ludicrous? Think again.
During the late 40s the Rochester ferries arrived in Cobourg, a few strapping young boys were there to dive off the pier to catch the quarters the USAmericans threw off the boat as ut docked. The boys got to display their virility and bravery for a favourite girl, and if they were skilful enough, they got a couple quarters to take their girl to the movies.
When the ferries retired, young men would take off their shirts and dive into the inner harbour from the rooftop of the shed that was located where the Coast Guard currently roosts.
Nowadays, the focus of attention is at the end of Division Street. This is where teenagers continue the age old testing of their swimming skills, where the mating game fun takes place. This is the place where well-muscled men test their strength on their surf boards as they cast themselves into wind whipped waves.
Prohibiting forever this time-honoured fun of the young just to solve a very few lacerations seems a tad draconian. This proposed by-law reminds me of the inherent stupidity inherent in a Henny Youngman joke; Raising his hand high, the patient told the doctor that it hurt when he did that. The doctor replied, “Then don’t do that.”
There is more than enough DON’T DO THAT signage littering Victoria Park and waterfront. There are so many No Zone Layers that it is smothering all the spontaneous fun out of waterfront. Please, No More No.
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