I'm sincerely sorry to have offended you. I don't think that our opinions on
this are that far apart, and shouldn't have been quite as sarcastic in my
response.
That said, I still fail to see the overflowing coffers being dedicated to
pork-barrel endangered fish projects. What we get are things like Victor
Birstein, who comes up with a method to identify the species of sturgeon
caviar came from (with USFWS funds), patents it, and then turns around and
files suit against USFWS for using it without permission. We get people like
the "ichthyologist" at Samford University whose primary source of income
comes from providing
"professional opinion" to Alabama Power and other big business on things
like Alabama sturgeon. These fall into the 'slimeball' category.
ALL Federal fish hatcheries are MANDATED to do some endangered species work,
and yet almost none of them do. If endangered species are such big money
items, why is this the case? The few endangered species propagation projects
(eg Dexter NWR) are broadening their scope, and including things like
invertebrates. This is a step in the right direction, but is still no
substitute for habitat preservation.
Anyway, please accept my apologies. If I see you at NANFA 2000, I'll buy you
a beer.
Cheers,
Dave
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