The headline, “Crabbing season opens June 18,” appearing on page 6 of the June 14 Whidbey News-Times, while technically correct, is grossly misleading. It’s almost like saying, “The temperature will be 80 today,” with the fine print adding, “it’ll be 58 here but 80 in San Diego.”

The areas that opens on June 18, areas 4, 5, and 13, are not even close by. The crabbing areas around here will NOT open till July 2 or later (which is mentioned later in the article). The headline is very misleading and will definitely lead to a lot of people out crabbing early in the areas that don’t open till July 2. And as everybody is aware, we have enough poaching going on without semi-legalizing it.

Suggest you make a clarification at the earliest possible time. Thanks a lot.

Fred Stilwell

Oak Harbor