Xref: utzoo rec.pets:2127 alt.aquaria:200
Path: utzoo!hoptoad!amdcad!pyramid!lll-winken!gryphon!richard
From: richard@gryphon.CTS.COM (Richard Sexton)
Newsgroups: rec.pets,alt.aquaria
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Pirahana puzzle
Message-ID: <2454@gryphon.CTS.COM>
Date: 7 Feb 88 06:11:14 GMT
References: <2382@gryphon.CTS.COM> <4752@ihlpg.ATT.COM> <2409@gryphon.CTS.COM> <1006@aicchi.UUCP>
Reply-To: richard@gryphon.CTS.COM (Richard Sexton)
Organization: Trailing Edge Technology, Redondo Beach, CA
Lines: 68

In article <1006@aicchi.UUCP> klotz@aicchi.UUCP (Klotzbach) writes:
>> As far as i know, Piranha were made illegal in the entire United States
>> in the late seventies.
>> 
>> If sombody were to call fish and game and get a definitive ruling,
>> they could post an authoratative answer.
>> 
>> Ball in your court.
>
>*** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE ***
>
>First task try to find something that sounds like "Fish and Game".
>I called the local office of "The Dept of the Interior, Us Fish and Wildlife
>Services, Division of law enforcement 10600 Higins Road Rosemont, IL", 
>They said "We have no restrictions on the possession of any species
>of Piranha. Call you local department of Conservation to see if there are any
>local restrictions". Of course this was not a legal brief, but I think that
>would take care of the federal. But again call the IRS for any legal opinion
>and you will get several different an contridictory answers, so...

Ok, there are no restrictions on possession on Piranha.

As far as I know (and I could be wrong) Piranha are on "the list"
of animal species that may not be imported into the U.S.

I became awar of this when I lived in Canada, because our local
fish store guy bought his stuff from Buffalo, and could
no longer get Piranha.

>
>Item 3.
>
>I called the Il Department of Conservation 100 W. Randolf Chicago. They were
>rather anoyed, have others been calling as well? Any how they said, "We let 
>them be sold in Pet stores so of course there legal."

Aha. Thats ok. The guy who owns the video store across the road
ASSURED me that I could make a copy of "Dune". It was perfectly
legal he said. He even sold me the blank tape...

>Although I am anoyed that the original poster did not do this le work before
>tellin us all that we could not have owned Piranha, I willhave to thank him
>for makin me research it. I now know who to talk to with similar questions. 

Sorry you are annoyed, but I knew you were far more qualified at
handling the government beurocrisy (whatever) than I. Good work
agent 42.

There were a series of areticles in TFH in the 78-81 timeframe that
dealt with new restrictions on importing fish into the use. It
was pretty scary how comprehensive the list was. A lot of
(one would assume) harmless fish were on it along with things
like Piranha and Clarius.  The bill passed, and I never
saw anything hinting that the law was ever changed.

Couple this with the observation that you could no longer
buy Piranha from Buffalo wholesalers and do you think
it's reasonable to assume that Piranha are restricted  ?

Remember also that lungfish are a protected species
and THEY turn up in petshops. BTW, they are also
on "the list".



-- 
               "It's too dark to put my legs in my munitions"
                          richard@gryphon.CTS.COM 
   {ihnp4!scgvaxd!cadovax, philabs!cadovax, codas!ddsw1} gryphon!richard