Editor:

Compliments to Ms. Chase and to California Coast & Ocean for a well-written and informative article. I’ve worked with Joy on the prescriptive rights study for Santa Claus Beach here in Santa Barbara County, and look forward to its culmination.

Chase introduces the area with the phrase, “A Highway 101 off-ramp leads to Seaside Village Drive (until recently named Santa Claus Lane) . . . “ Indeed, the Santa Claus Lane commercial property owners did apply for such a road renaming, which was approved in February 2003 by the Santa Barbara County Zoning Administrator. However, this approval was appealed by a neighboring resident and, on July 15, 2003, the Board of Supervisors upheld the appeal and thereby denied the road re-naming. Santa Claus himself may be gone, but this road will continue to be called Santa Claus Lane and, so it appears, the beach will continue to be known as Santa Claus Beach.

Gregory Mohr, Planner III
Santa Barbara County Planning & Development
Comprehensive Planning Division

Name That Fish!

Editor:

Read the latest C&O and excellent as always. Noticed that birds are often named, but not the fish. I would be more than happy to try and ID your fish. Spring 2003: p. 7—almost certainly a surf smelt (Hypomesus pretiosus); p. 11—striped surfperch (Embiotoca lateralis).

Ed Ueber
Sanctuary Manager
Gulf of the Farallones
National Marine Sanctuary