Letter to the Editor

“House boats”

To the Editor:

I’ve been following the Stikine River houseboat

dilemma for some time now with interest. I did moose patrols for the Fish and Wildlife Service on the river in 1957, 58 and 59. I also ran the river in the 70 and 80s with friends in Petersburg and Telegraph Creek with a youth camp.  There were no house boats on the river in that time. There were, however, numerous private cabins and moose tree huts.

Soon after statehood, the Forest Service, after taking much criticism for being a

mere “Logging Service” started their so called “Multiple Use” policy. They moved or destroyed most of the private cabins and all the moose tree huts from the river and built their own

A-frames and cabins for “public use.” However, the demand

was such then by hunters

they were over booked for months, so of limited use thus creating the demand for float houses.

It was thought at the time, perhaps erroneously, that if the house boat had Coast Guard numbers it was legal and untouchable by the Forest Service, although the Coast Guard claimed no responsibility for the river...even though navigable waters. (Unfortunately this led to a person being killed on the Hot Springs slough).  

Ironically, it seems to me the government has created the need for house boats and is now penalizing individuals for the use of them.

Ken Gilpin, Flint Hill, Virginia