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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxj!houxm!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!ssc-vax!fluke!moriarty
From: moriarty@fluke.UUCP (Jeff Meyer)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: Flame Broiled Veal
Message-ID: <63@vax2.fluke.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 21-Nov-84 12:49:43 EST
Article-I.D.: vax2.63
Posted: Wed Nov 21 12:49:43 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 28-Nov-84 04:16:31 EST
References: <139@gcc-opus.ARPA>
Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Everett, WA
Lines: 35

Actually, I agree, in most part; I come from a family of Fishery Biologists
("You're getting your degree in COMPUTER SCIENCE??"), and at the Federal and
State Fish & Wildlife level, there are quite a few reasons to open
restricted hunting seasons on some of these animals -- the lack of natural
predators has caused a population swell in some species, and their
overpopulation is a danger to them and to other species.  The bottom line is
THIS: it depends on the current population of the animal.  There are some
seals which are being protected unnecessarily.  However, there are some
which are NOT: The harp seal is still on the endangered list, and suitable
protections (i.e. no hunting) ARE necessary.  The same is true for some
animals.  I suspect that deer and elk hunting have actually become part of
environmental checks and balances for these animals -- without the game
hunting season, the larger population would all the available winter food,
and this would cause starvation in both the deer and other animals in the
ecosystem.  Unfortunately, it is the predators (wolves, cougars, bears (the
latter does go vegetarian quite a bit)) who are underpopulated; their lack
of numbers need to be supplemented by Roy 'n Bill from the Chicago suburbs.

Two addenums:  this is just what I've picked up growing up with ecologists,
and at a job with a Fisheries department and one at the Forest Service.  I
am NOT a biologist (I am a human being! :-) ).  Two, I do think some of
these people could be a bit more sporting in their hunting.  When living in
Maine, I was constantly treated to sites of New Englanders/Yorkers/Jerseyers
coming up to hunt deer in outfits that would make PLO terrorists drool.  At
the tender age of 5, I thought the Rat Patrol had invaded.

        "History is made at night.  Character is what you are in the dark."

					Moriarty, aka Jeff Meyer
					John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc.
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