Cyli wrote:

On Fri, 25 Mar 2005 00:19:54 -0600, chas
wrote:

(snipped)


Your synopsis implies that transplanted hatchery fish are to be counted as wild
fish, and this bill would outlaw transplanted hatchery fish.

I think this sounds like the best way to run a hatchery program. The only
improvement in it for wild fish would be to outlaw the hatcheries entirely.
I'm not certain that would be an improvement, but that's my ignorance talking.

Why do you call this voodoo science?

Thanks for your help

Chas
remove fly fish to e mail directly



Because they're bred in a hatchery and raised in a hatchery. They
aren't wild fish. In MN the distinction is clear. We can only keep
(in certain places), fish with the back fin clipped and scarred over,
because they're hatchery fish. The wild ones we have to do C & R on.

Now if they can live long enough in the wild to breed and the
offspring can grow to catchable size, I'm inclined to accept those
offspring as wild fish.

The genes that may be able to grow and live in a hatchery may be
enough different to dilute the truly wild stock if the wild stock is
permitted to be caught in and killed for lunch in any numbers. It's
not all quite as strong a difference as between a Pomeranian and a
wolf, but one is tame and one is wild. Even if the Pom successfully
goes feral (sorry, had to stop to giggle), it's not going to be a wolf
unless it breeds in with wolves and it's offspring and their offspring
eventually dilute the specific Pom genes and the old wolf comes out of
the dog.

Cyli
r.bc: vixen. Minnow goddess. Speaker to squirrels.
Often taunted by trout. Almost entirely harmless.

http://www.visi.com/~cyli
email: lid (strip the .invalid to email)


Your argument is wrong.

The reason why hatchery fish aren't the same as "wild" is that weaker
fish, even with "wild" genes may be able to survive in a hatchery when
they would not in the wild. It also means that they might not build up
defenses against diseases or be as strong as those having to survive in
the wild.

This doesn't change their genes, only their physical conditioning.