To the Editor:
I am writing in regard to today’s article in the daily newspaper about the crabbing ban in Bayonne and surrounding area. I had just written an email to Ray Greaves of Bayonne since he is a trusted member of Bayonne’s City Hall, as well as a friend of mine.
I took my five-year-old grandson crabbing at Hudson County Park. Earlier in the day, we went fishing but had no luck. He said. “Grandma, I have a great idea. Why don’t we buy those cage things and go crabbing?” I agreed. We called my son and my daughter-in-law to come with us, and we went. It was now low tide, but we baited the cages. Paulie had a blast. We caught one little one and threw it back in.
We were not going to eat the crabs. We were just crabbing for fun. We actually didn’t know about the dangers of eating crabs from the Bay. As we were leaving, a Wildlife Fish and Game Officer approached and told us it was illegal to crab in these waters and he could give us a $300 first offense ticket. He did not. He explained that all of the crabs tested in these waters tested “off the charts” for mercury and cancer causing agents.
He said for someone healthy and burly like my son, it wouldn’t harm him. But for a little one like my five-year-old grandson, the elderly, or sick, it could prove deadly. He said he appreciates that the little guy wants to fish, but advised that we go to Liberty State Park to do crabbing. He said fishing is fine in Bayonne because they migrate daily, but crabs settle with all the poisons. He gave us a magazine with the rules and regulations. We thanked him and continued to Liberty State Park.
I contacted Mr. Greaves because there are no signs posted anywhere in Bayonne or Jersey City, Routhe 440, etc., advising of the illegality of this or the health danger. There are, however, signs posted that say, “Health Warning: Do Not Feed Wildlife.” Can we do something about getting signs along our entire area?
BARBARA KUZMINSKI