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Kathryn Wegel, 8060142" d Street, Sebastian, stated that injuries to manatees are not <br />just caused by propellers, but also by impact. She lives in the wide section of the river and <br />had never seen an airboat until Mr. Taylor started his operation. The noise is great. She <br />emphasized that she is not trying to take away Mr. Taylor's living but felt the St. Sebastian <br />River is inappropriate for airboats. <br />Katherine Henderson, 11120 CR -507, Fellsmere, had canoed on the river. She <br />favored enforcing the laws already in place and not passage of new laws. <br />Mr. Taylor asked to respond and took issue with several statements made by the <br />people. He did not believe his boat makes that much noise. He did admit that one of his <br />captains did violate the law and paid his ticket; however, high speed is not necessary for <br />turns by the airboats. He called it ridiculous that one of his boats could have flooded <br />someone's house. He commented that earmuffs are supplied to his passengers for protection <br />from the whining noise of the motors but many do not wear them. He did not believe that <br />his airboats impact wildlife and stated that when an airboat goes over a manatee, it does not <br />injure it. He also would like to see strict enforcement of the laws. <br />Commissioner Ginn asked Mr. Taylor about the horsepower of his airboats, and he <br />replied they are 475 horsepower. <br />Commissioner Ginn reported that she had gone incognito on one of Mr. Taylor's <br />ecotours and found the airboat to be operated in a cautious manner. She did see a threat to <br />the river banks and did not see much wildlife. She inquired about the storage of Mr. Taylor's <br />airboats, and he advised that he keeps them on the river by his home when they are not in <br />use. <br />Commissioner Adams asked to hear from Ruth Stanbridge who was in the audience <br />and is with the Freshwater Fish and Game Commission. <br />Ruth Stanbridge advised that the Fish and Game Commission has never made a <br />specific study of effects of boating on the wildlife on the St. Sebastian River. <br />The Chairman asked if anyone else wished to be heard regarding this matter. There <br />being none, the Chairman closed the public hearing. <br />JUNE 291998 <br />