CAMDEN — The cat is about to pounce on the mice at Camden Harbor today, and for those who have ignored the warnings, the hammer is about to fall.

Camden Harbormaster Steve Pixley and his staff this morning rounded up four dinghies ticketed at least four days earlier for being unpermitted. A dinghy permit for residents costs $110, for non-residents it's $220.

After Aug. 15, the permit fee is half due to the fact that the boating season is considered half over by then.

"It's the fox and the chicken right now, and those that we ticket often claim they never saw the ticket but they continue to park their dinghies for long stretches, and move them around, to try and avoid detection," said Pixley. "But we know who they are and what they have been doing and it's unfair to the good people who did the right thing and paid up front for their permits."

The four delinquent dinghies have been tagged and corralled by the harbormaster's office, and Pixley's staff has been making to calls to the owners to alert them their time is running out.

On Pixley’s list are dinghy owners Pamela Stone, Deece Reiggles, Arthur Kirklian and David Emery.

One of those individuals, Kirklian, heeded the warning and went straight to Marlene Libby at the town office and purchased a permit.

"He has now just walked in, permit in hand, a smile on his face and he's shaking my hand," said Pixley.

Pixley said the other three dinghies will be hauled from the water Tuesday, July 30, and put into storage.

"It's going to cost $100 to the dinghy back once it's hauled, per ordinance, and they also have to buy a permit to put it back in and use the finger floats and the floats at Steamboat Landing," said Pixley.

For more information about Camden Harbor and how to access and use its services, visit the Camden Harbor Department's web page or call 236-7969. Camden Harbor Clerk Marlene Libby can be reached at the town office at 236-3353 ext. 111.