Reader had a bad experience crossing the border

Letter to the Editor:
I read with interest the account of the scooter rider on the international bridge. While he found some humour in the petty actions of a customs officer, I didn’t find anything to laugh at in my recent experience.
A couple of weeks ago my son and I decided to go fishing in Canada. I had a Canadian fishing licence but my son did not, so we crossed the international bridge at Rainy River and reported to Customs.
The Canadian Customs officer asked the purpose of our trip and I replied that I wanted to obtain a landing permit and go into Rainy River to get a fishing licence. The officer said that there was no one present who could issue a landing permit and that we couldn’t get a fishing licence without one. I hadn’t needed a landing permit when I had obtained my fishing licence. The officer appeared to be finished with the interview so I drove into Rainy River.
When I got out of my car, an Ontario Provincial Police car drove up behind me, an officer got out, told me to get back in my car and follow him back to the Customs office, I asked what was wrong and he said that I had made an illegal entry into the country. I tried to explain what had happened, but was told that if I didn’t comply, I would be put in jail.
When we returned to the customs office, the customs officer said that she had told me that since the licences could not be obtained, we were to return to Baudette. I had not heard this when we came through, nor had my son.
After a short, embarrassing discussion among OPP, Customs, my son and I, we agreed that the best solution was to return immediately to the United States.
I have no problem with Canada nor Canadians in general, but this incident at the border makes me reluctant to return either to visit or fish.
If that Customs officer, and even the OPP officer are representatives of your province and country, to me they are very poor ambassadors.
–Bernard Morton
Baudette, MN