Fisheries committee  We've been delayed to the point where there have been safety concerns, for sure. We've towed boats off of there for over a week, waiting for dredging. At one point there we had a problem getting a permit from the environment people, and we felt we shouldn't have, because they know where we're taking it from every time.

Fisheries committee  Extend the wharf out and we won't have the problem.

Fisheries committee  We may not have to at all.

Fisheries committee  Obviously there would be a one-time dredging when it was done.

Fisheries committee  There's no study, but I can say that there's no engineer in the world that could come here and give any more evidence than what the three people sitting here could give. We've watched it since we were kids. If you look at the top picture in Naufrage Harbour and you look at the east pier, or the pier on the right going out, you can see that it's in the breakers and just barely at the top of the shore.

Fisheries committee  We had a meeting with small craft harbours people--I believe it was last fall or through the winter sometime--and I asked what it would cost for an extension. The reply I got was $1,500 to $2,000 a foot. That was just somebody at small craft harbours. Now, as for whether it's a little more or less, I'm not an engineer, so I can't say.

Fisheries committee  Not to my knowledge.

Fisheries committee  There's no question. You can never keep any industry 100% clear of having lives lost, but there's no question that there will be lives lost if it's not done. There may even be lives lost somewhere down the road if it is, but there's no question it'll be a lot fewer.

Fisheries committee  Absolutely.

Fisheries committee  We were definitely told the same thing.

Fisheries committee  Yes, we were.

Fisheries committee  We were fearful of it, yes.

Fisheries committee  Not to my knowledge.

Fisheries committee  I've been fishing since 1972, and the general infrastructure hasn't changed any. There's been some cosmetic work, like maybe a top being put on it or having it refaced in a couple of places, but the general structure hasn't changed since at least before 1972, for sure.

Fisheries committee  It was always bad there, and the sand always has accumulated in the same place over the years. The only thing that's making it worse today is that our boats draw more water. Certainly when I started, perhaps with a foot and a half of water we could have sailed over the bar. Mind you, that's in good weather.