Smyrna times., 1963-05-23
Letter To
The Editor
To the Editor,
Smyrna Times,
Smyrna, Delaware

- A@@A@1H
Smyrna, Delaware
have read with great deal
of interest the newspaper ard
cles about the Prime Hook Game
Refuge and the action by the
members of the Delaware Game
and Fish Commission and the
adverse comment from a num-
Der of people.
Where we're these people last
summer when the newspapers
carried stories about the pro-
posed Prime Hook Refuge anc
the possible expansion of the
Bombay Hook area by the Gov
ernment2
Did any of them get In touch
with us as a body or as an
Individual Commissioner
have heard that Senator John ].
Williams was contacted In this
regard. If so, he did not get In
touch with us.
No one from Kent County has
been In touch with me to date
and no one had contacted Mr..
c. Parker Wheatley from Sus-
sex County at the time of our
meeting last August. AT that
meeting, Mr.. Wheatley, Presi-
dent and a Sussex County res
ident, was specifically asked
this question and his reply was
'sNo one has been in touch with
me as being against the pro-
ject. My people are evidently
In favor of 1t"
Eight months after we unan-
lmously voted In favor of the
Refuge a storm ofprotests have
arisen. The Levy Court of Sus-
sex County have noted their OBJ
lection and the Kent County Levy
Court has been approached to
voice the objection also. Indi-
viduals In both Kent and Sus-
sex Counties are calling meet
ings to discuss action. A bill
has been introduced In the Le-
gislature to increase the mem
bership of the Commission.
WHY DID THEY WAIT so
LONG7
Anyone in Kent County who
had taken the time to get In
touch with me would have been
told that when we metwith Gov
ernment officials, they were
told we felt the 10000 acres
In Kent County was adequate
In the Bombay Hook area; m-
less, the land be acquired with
out condemnation. 1t is the pre-
rogative of any individual to
sell his land to the Govern
ment If he so desires.
AS Commissioners we are
sworn to the conservation, pre-
servadon and propagation of
wildlife and recreational fa-
cilides. Governor Carvel i'm
pressed this uponme at the time
of my appointment. Just last
week at the dedication of Cour-
sey's Pond, he again reiterated
the necessity of this type of
facility again charging us with
our responsibility to see that
conservation and recreational
facilities we're maintained.
Since the State cannot afford
this expenditure, the Govern
ment is asked to assist.
Whether the membership of
the Commission remains at
three, seven or rwenty-seven,
as Commissioners they are
charged and sworn with the
responsibility of the conserva-
ton and preservation of Wild
life In the State of Delaware
and results should be the same.
AS a hunter myself, | know
the Prime Hook area is vital
to the Atlantic Flyway and the
preservation of the nations
waterfowl resources. Hunting
demands on our States facili-
nes are increasing yearly. Hun
ting and fishing is fast be-
coming the favorite past time
of an ever increasing popu-
lation. 1t is our duty to see
that this type of facility is
obtained and maintained for all
the people of Delaware.
The true sportsman knows
our decision was the right one
and quite a few have taken the
trouble to tell us so.
Franklin N. Tarburton,
Vice President
Delaware Game and Fish
Commission