I was like 17 or 18(1987 or 88 just for reference) and was dipping herring up behind the herring run motel. The property owner at the time had "conveniently" left the gate open for fishermen. After observing for a few days I realized it was pretty common for guys to walk right in through the unlocked gate and dip bait, so why would I needlessly deprive myself from having some live bait?
Anyways, the squirrel cop/herring warden showed up while I was dipping, confiscated my stuff and left me with a $50 fine.
What got my goat was this same guy used to "discreetly" deliver live bait to all his buddies on the canal. There would be a couple guys set up down in the cribbin area, the green truck would pull up(while nobody was looking, of course), and load the guys up with bait. The whole canal herring scene back then was really something to behold.
Participating in that fishery with any fervor was like being a member of the underworld...many folks would point the finger at everyone else, all the while they'd be hoarding every last piece of bait for themselves when nobody was looking, or at least they thought.
