‘PRIDE OF NORTH: Jennifer ‘and - Danny _Ansems (at top) were among ’-the faces at the .Skeena Valley Fall .. Fair last. : ‘weekend. They - placed third and sec- ond, respectively, in sheep showmanship with ‘Curly’ and ‘Rol- ly; Above, David Kozier. keeps. tabs on 'Bib’;-a 1,263-Ib: Lim- ousin, - Barry” Peters, ‘beef on the barbecue atthe Rotary Club beer garden. Look for more photos and results fromthe Fall “Fale in. next: week's paper. = Terrace Standard, Wednesday, September 9, 1992 — Page AS LETTERS | TO THE TERRACE STANDARD above. right, turns the : Biologist backs up fish statistics Dear Sir: In your Aug. 26 edition you quoted Mr. Greg Taylor of “Ocean Fisheries. in Prince Rupert as claiming I “had stretched the truth and manipu- lated ~ the statisties’’” -with respect to steelhead catch reporting by the commercial fishing Meet operating an the north coast of B.C. Tn reference to the reported estimate of the steclhead rua entering the Skeena to that point in the season, Mr. Taylor was quoted as = saying: “Certainly those are terrible figures if you believe those fig- ures.” These are strong (slanderous) words, notably unsupported by any facts, and they will not pass unchallenged. “With the end of the run in sight there is no chance the shortfall can ‘be overcome.”' The deliberate non-reporting of steclhead by both individual fishermen aud fish processing companics, especially in north- ern B.C,. is a matter. of pub- lished record. The reports are available for anyone to review. Incidentally, I was not the av- thor, so accusations of manipulation of statistics will have to be directed elsewhere. ‘As far as the procedure for eslimating the steelhead run escaping: the = commercial fishery and passing into the lower Skeena River is con- cerned, that rests with the De- partment of Fisherics and Oceanis. Precisely the same methodol- ogy has been employed. for 36 years, All 1 did was report the figure given to me by DFO. ‘Mr. Taylor’s accusations “bring au interesting questian to mind. If steclhead and sockeye ‘salmon are. all mixed in togeth- eras they approach the Skeena River and if about 50 per cent of all the sockeye are reported harvested by. the commercial nets cach year, how would one explain © reporled steelhead catches of only 15 to 20 per ceut of the run? Furthermore, if DFO's figure “an the number of steelhead en- tering the river so very much underestimates (he true rua, as Mr. Taylor claims, and if the commercial .calch reporting is accurate, then the proportion of the steclhcad run harvested is far less than 15 per cent, This is simply not belicvable. The bottom line on Skeena summer .steclhead is that at least 23,000 spawners are re- quired to sustain the combined Stocks (eg. Kispiox, Bulkley, Babine, etc.) making up the to- tal population. This year, as of Sept. 1, the estimated number of summer Steclhcad into’ the - lower Skeena is about 10,000. From that will be subtracted a sig- nificant number taken by First Nations fishermen. With the end of the run in sight there is no chance the shortfall. can be overcome. Those are the facts. Bob Hooton, Head, Fisheries Scction, Smithers, People and pets Dear Sir: after a week, the dog is put out- I really bave no idea how ny side, with or without restraints, © letter to municipal council, or. and that’s about it. ’ parts of my leiter, made itto the © Sometimes, the puppy gets Standard (Sept. 2), but I guess fortunate and is given away to that’s how. newspapers function, -people who. know ‘a. litle bit . And ghat's not a,bad, thing, ,gi-. "about, dogs. .,But,- even... then,, ther. But I feel Linus’ clarity, at Chances, are, this . puppy will least one point. grow up to breed and produce Yes, I did go to the Terrace more puppies which will end up ‘shelter onc day and found the atthe Terrace Animal Shelicr. situation there terrible, for Sametimes, parents figure thal animals and humans. But please a nice killen would be a better let me state that I had been at pet. After all, cats are cleaner the ‘pound’? many times be- than dogs, they do their thing in fore aud, although the cages a litter box, or ouitside-in the were overcrowded, it was kept ucighbor’s flower beds. In any as clean as possible under the case, it’s the- same. scenario, circumstances. only cats can produce 2 to 3 lit- But the fact remains that Ter- ters every year, and they can race is in desperate need of an start quile young, adequate facility. And now that Same game, different players, the article bas appeared in the but the Terrace Animal Sheller Standard, I suppose there is no still ends up picking up the need for me or anyone else to pieces. contact the health department. OF course it cosls money to The problem is not with the © spay and neuter an animal. But personnel at the shelter, they are it’s worth it, All those myths _ doing their very best. But when about fat cals and lazy dogs are you have an old, inadequate just that, myths. An altered building, no amount of cleaning animal beconics more folcrant, can sanitize the facilitics. Also, more eager to please its proper drainage would have to, masters, and just basically, a be put in and the dogs should better animal. There is no worry have individual runs, about stinky furniture, spots an Jt would also be beneficial for the carpet, fighting, howling, the cats fo have an area well aud sniffing. away from the dogs. And no more unwanted pup- Right now, they are directly ° pies and kittens to be taken to facing the kennels, and so many the Terrace Animal Shelter, of these cats -are ‘‘spooked’' Also, it’s important to remem- aud would be considered quite ber that any animal will get fat unfriendly by anyone wanting if it's overfed and under- ‘to adopt a cat. exercised , The biggest part of the prob- Sa, by all means, let’s get a lem is still people. Parents want new shelter for Terrace, we all a “companion” for litthe need one, even for those who Tommy or Tammy. They go © don’t live in the neighbourhood, down to the animal sheler and. as ] do, But let’s also do our find a cute, litthe puppy. part, everyone, to make sure tlic So they pay the nominal fee pets we now own will not be and bring Fido home. Within a breeders which will cause. this day, curtains and. shocs are new shelter to be. as over- chewed up, the living-room car- crowded as the present one is. pet is stained and smelly and, Sincerely, © ‘ Fido isn’t even cuddly. If the Joan Roy ©The Start is for. people - “