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Bowman advised that the large boats are usually piloted by hired pilots to go back and forth up north. They are paid by the trip, and they are usually in a hurry. Mr. DeBlois advised that the State's comments indicate that they would support the wake control restrictions. The Narrows is approximately a 2-1/2 mile stretch south of the Wabasso Bridge. Commissioner Bird understood that the minimum speed for pulling water skiers is 35 mph, but Commissioner Bowman didn't feel it was necessary to regulate speeds in the Narrows, just the wake. The Chairman opened the Public Hearing, and asked if anyone wished to be heard in this matter. Robert LeMasters spoke against having the high speed zones, and noted that he has spent 40 years on the Indian River and has good reason to believe that slow-moving boats will actually attract manatees whereas they will try to get away from a speeding boat. The manatee and the river itself is dependent upon sea grass beds, but the manatee eat the sea grass, and if the grass beds are gone, the river is going to be dead. Commissioner Bowman disagreed about the manatee being a good dodger because practically every living manatee has prop scars. Burke Michael, 2 Earring Point, which is at the foot of the Wabasso Bridge, stated that she has skied in the Narrows since she was a small girl and is in favor of keeping the Narrows open to skiers. She believed that most skiers know what they are doing, and felt that if boater safety is in peril, it is because of the docks going in along Jungle Trail. She urged the Board to consider not allowing more docks or marinas to go in along the Narrows. She fought to save Jungle Trail and is still fighting to save it from the developers, but she felt that the skiers' rights have to be taken into consideration because the skiers are not causing erosion along Jungle Trail nor are they harming the manatee. F -I lii}GF �rl E'.�JE 42