Editor, Gazette-Journal:

Your editorial titled “Save the Bay” (Page 6A, March 16) references a press release which would have us believe that improvements in water quality will restore marine resources.

That’s a good start and it’s important, but let me ask: Who remembers the state of finfish production during the 1960s, or even earlier? Now, put that answer in terms of the pollution levels which existed at that time.

Weren’t there at least two menhaden factories on the Northern Neck? Croakers were scarce and there were not many spot, but plenty of trout and bluefish, rockfish were dwindling. What was the pollution condition of our waters before the regs went into effect? Awful! Terrible! The city of Annapolis poured raw sewage into the bay. The U.S. Navy grossly polluted the harbor in Hampton Roads. Conditions in the Elizabeth River were beyond belief. And the York River? Forget it.

The point is that the press release to which you refer implies that m...