A6é - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, April 15, 1998 Religion divides anglers Dear Sir: If ever there was a misrepresentation of the facts, it’s by Mr. Rob Brown, (The Skcena Angler, April 1, 1998.) The B.C. Wildlife Federation (BCWF) is the oldest and largest conservation group in B.C. and does not need me to defend it. [is conservation record speaks for itself. As a grassroots democratically run organization, the BCWF is not always right, but always tries to do the right thing, Mr. Brown’s jealous raging, like the chanting of a monk in a religious fever, is he mantra of the Steelhead Society of B.C, Herein lies the root of the issue — catch and release fishing and sleelhead and for some, the holy grail. Somehow this fish ‘has been bestowed with mythical, magical and icon status. The neophytes of steelheading are ideologues of the worst kind because they put personal belief systems before hard biological data. Who are the truc conservationists? The person who catches and kills one steclhead-and goes home or the per- son Who spends a 100 days a year catch and releasing fish knowing the associated mortality of 5 to 10 per cent. I guess if you chant the main rules of steelhead long enough you became a true believer. ]f you don’t know the mules they are as follows. Thou shalt not kill. Though shall never hatchery-enhance. Only the rich and elitist fly fishermen shall catch and release sleelhead. The hypocrisy of Mr. Brown knows no bounds. His holicr than thou attitude toward the so-called bullet and bait brigade is suspect. You'd think the catch and release crazies weren't driving sharpened steel books into living Angler column Dear Sir: In bis April 1, 1998 column, Rob Brown (The Skeena Angler), made a rambling attack on the B,C. Wildlife Fed- eration (BCWF) and its over 30,000 members who voluntecr countless hours to the resource. On the plus side, I was pleased that Mr. Brown compared the BCWF to Ducks Unlimited, which over the years has done mare to restore and maintain waterfowl habitat across North Amer- ica than any other organization. Il was gratifying to be in- cluded in such exemplary company. Mr. Brown would leave his readers with the impression that the BCWF has asked for an unlimited retention fishery for steclhead in the Skeena watershed. This is not the case. List not secret Dear Sir: Recently I asked School District 82 secretary treasurer Mr. Barry Piersdorff for a list of voting members on the district’s education committee. I was to make a presenta- lion to that committee, and needed those names for cover letters on an information package | was preparing. Mr. Piersdorff denied those names to me under the Free- dom of Information and Right to Privacy Act, Section 22. I must admit, I was confused. The names of these mem- bers appear on all ihe minutes (which are available to the public) and the commiltee is a body doing public business. Further, it was my understanding many groups had access to that list of names. AfierT was denied the names, I phoned the Office of the ‘Commissioner for the Freedom, af Information and Right to Privacy Act, as well as the director of that act within the education ministry. The response from both of those of- fices was disbelief. They told me Mr. Piersdorff’s refusal of my request had no basis in law aud neither was it con- sistent wilh tke intent of the act. The director phoned Mr. Piersdorff to let him know he was not justified in denying me the list. Shortly thereafter, I received the list from Mr. Piersdorff. The fact remains that in order for me to get a simple list of names from this school district, I had to go through two ministries aud countless letters and phone calls. I sincercly hope my expericuce is not the common expe- rience of people attempting to get a simple answer from this school district. One may gel the impression this school district considers itself to be outside the law, and not accountable to mem- bers of this community, conforming when ordered to by higher auihorilies. Sarah de Leeuw, Terrace, B.C. Baby's Name: Bahy's Name: Austin Arthur Herbert Burke Marshall Sydney Almeida ‘Wilson Date & Time of Birth: Date & Time of Birth: March 25, 1998 at 8:37 am. Weight: 7 lbs. 402, Sex: Male Parents: Brian & Suzanne Burke March 30, 1998 at 3:3.7 a.m. Weight: 11 lbs 1 az, Sex: Male Parents: Doug & Nina Wilson ¢ + Raby's Name: Baby's Name: Brayden Andrew Patterson Paitynn Juliah Date & Time of Birth: Date & Time of Birth: March 31, 1998 at 9:04 a.m, March 26, 1998 at 8:43 p.m. Weight: 10 ths 2 oz. Sex: Fernale Weight: B lbs .5 07, Sex: Male Parents: Kevin & Thersa Patterson Parents: Rick & Camille Uippisley + + Baby's Name: Baby's Name: Amanda Marie Tyrel Aurther Redwood Date & Time of Birth: Date & Time of Bleth: March 31, 1998, 4:21 Weight: 4 lbs 11 oz Sex: Male Parents: Allen & Tracy Redwood March 28, 1998 al 9:02 Weight: 7 ibs 14 oz, Sex: Fernale Parents: Jennifer sent & Mario Pirrotta Get A Free Baby Gift. (Simple, huh?) Just see our service desk for more information ON-MOR ly ONVIOR ; se en aitea AVE ON-MO SA ON- Mo Re a : BUS very own hod pec. a, CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD The Mail Bag - tissue and playing them to near exhaustion on light gear, What’s worse is thal the catch and release crowd gels some self-serving greed satisfaction out of doing this over and over again, bragging and keeping score. Mr. Brown’s personal attack on Mike O’Neill, BCWF regional president, is unwarranted to say the least. Mike is simply asking for an extension on the one a year kill fishery to include the upper river and the heaviest part of the run later in the season. All. of the available data clearly shows there is a harvestable surplus. in my opinion Mike O’Neill’s integrity and honesty is beyond reproach. [ don’t think the Steelhead Society or Mr, Rob Brown can even pack his lunch. Philip W, Parr, Vice President, Region 5, BCWF an “insult” The federation is concerned with recent changes to the fishing regulations that removed an existing option for a retention fishery for steclhead, These changes were made without consultation with the fishing community in the Skeena region. There is also a concern that steclhead are being sect up as an icon species wila the mindset amongst some individuals that they should never be retained as a food fish, regardless of the strength of the stocks, We da not support that. All reports indicate that most of the steelhead stocks in ihe Skeena system are stronger than they have been in years, On this basis, the BCWF has asked the fisheries ministry for an extremely limited retention fishery for steelhead in 1998. The proposed fishery would be of one day to a week duration, with a limit of one fish per year, and to be run no earlier than Sept. 1. The location would be on a tributary or river reach to be identified by fisheries staff, after public consultation. This is an extremely low risk proposition, but it would be an act of faith on behalf of provincial fisheries to demonstrate that when steelhead stocks are healthy, a retention fishery is possible. It is our understanding that the long term sieelhead man- agement goal of government on the Skeena has been for a limited retention fishery when stocks show recovery and biological surpluses. T am also amazed that Mr. Brown suggests that anyone who works in the resource industry is incapable of working for the good of the fish and wildlife resource. This is an in- credible statement to make and surely, an insult to the large number of dedicated volunteers across the province who work on fisheries and wildlife projects and who coin- cidentally work in various sectors of the resource industry. John B. Holdstock, President B.C, Wildlife Federation It's A Beautiful Thing Smooth it, Curl it, Paste it ’Flat Our Relaxing Balm’ is non-chemical curl relaxer ‘Curl Up Curling Balm’ is non-chemical Curl Intensifier ‘Paste Molding Paste’ is for Technology. 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