This was also ran in the Cass Lake Times recently:

Cass Lake Chamber issues official statement on spear fishing ban
Written by ALLAN OLSON
While the Cass Lake Chamber of Commerce met last week with a full agenda to discuss, including its two winter activities, members also spent some time discussing its stand on lifting the ban on spear fishing on Cass Lake.

The discussion was held during the meeting on whether the chamber should actively support the organization, Cass Lake Initiative For Spearing (CLIFS), that is heading up the process on lifting the ban. Spearing has been closed on Cass Lake since 1988 due largely to a Muskie International campaign to ban spear fishing on Cass because the muskie population was in danger.

The chamber has been flooded with phone calls and emails, mostly against spearing.

The chamber stance on the debate is that it is not in charge of the drive to re-open spearing and neither is it against it.

The chamber board also stated that it is supportive of anything positive that creates and/or develops economic growth in the area.

Virkus along with other board members have prepared the following official statement regarding spearing.

The Cass Lake Area Chamber of Commerce is an association of business persons and merchants who work together to promote the prosperity and attractiveness of the greater area by representation of its citizens and business community.

Currently they are an organization of 100-plus businesses in the Cass Lake area. The objective of the Chamber is to promote these organizations in order to bring economic growth to the area.

The Chamber cannot lift the ban on spear fishing. This is a legislative issue which must be undertaken by our politicians in the Minnesota House and Senate. The Chamber, itself, does not support lifting the ban of spear fishing on Cass Lake nor does it support retaining the ban of spear fishing on Cass Lake. The individual members of the organization have a right to their own opinion regarding the lifting of the ban on spear fishing.

Furthermore, the Chamber is not affiliated with CLIFS. This is an organization formed by area residents promoting to lift the ban of spear fishing on Cass Lake.

Cass Lake chamber member, The Cass Lake Times, has posted a poll on its Web site. To make your opinion known go to casslaketimes.com.