with their innate population determinants.

The issue for fish farmers is different.  Unlike the loss perceived by fishers, theirs is a real one.  Ironically, they brought it on themselves by laying out a banquet that attracted fish-eating birds and probably contributed to the rise in population by increasing their food supply.  The present policy of USF&W (granting exemptions to kill cormorants in the act of fishing in these ponds but only after other aversive methods                                                                                                                               have become ineffective)  seems like the best solution for the present.  The obvious solution is for these artificial enterprises, which contribute to water pollution by keeping fish crowded fin to fin, to be shut down.  As that will not happen this year or next, it seems best to separate their needs from the needs of those who seek to establish a sport hunting season on cormorants.  The ultimate solution is for humans to stop torturing and eating fish who suffer no less because they lack vocal cords to express their pain.

It will be easier to prevent a hunting season from becoming established than to eliminate it once it has happened.  For this reason, New Yorkers should write or call their state assemblypersons (LOB Albany NY 12248) and senators (LOB Albany NY 12247).  Also:

Commissioner John Cahill
Department of Environmental Conservation
50 Wolf Road
Albany NY 12250

EVERYBODY  should send encouragement to:
                                         
Paul Schmidt, Chief                                         Ron Lambertson
Office of Migratory Bird Management            NE Director
US Fish & Wildlife Service                              USF&WS                                                                                                                                                                                                  4401 North Fairfax Drive                                 300 Westgate Ctr. Dr.                                                                                     
Arlington VA 22203                                          Hadley MA  01035

Previous update              Civitas Home Page                 Winter 97-98 "C-paper"     


BUFFALO NATIONS                                   January 17, 1998

Last winter, 1100 buffalo, half the Yellowstone herd,  were killed because they migrated out of Yellowstone National Park in search of food.  This year a federal judge has decreed that 100 more may be killed.  Saddened by the loss of these animals, who used to number in the millions before invading Europeans deliberately and wantonly killed them to destroy the life support of native American tribes,  today's native Americans  and friends have set up an emergency communication system  to respond to calls from landowners about invading buffalo. 

Members go to the scene and gently haze the buffalo back to safe territory and herd them to land where they are not unwelcome.  The band has also undertaken to help residents repair fencing damaged by the buffalo, fencing that was damaged last year as well as this year.  The project appears to be well received.

You will remember that the biggest problem is that the state of Montana is afraid it will lose its "brucellosis free" certification if buffalo who are carrying the organism enter their land.  It is
curious that nothing is done about the elk who are much more susceptible to the disease than buffalo.  There is no record of buffalo having infected cows.  One official described the chance of that happening as about on a par with being struck by lightning, but all the ranchers and agriculture department can think of is the likely financial loss resulting from desertification if brucellosis should be detected in their cows.

The Buffalo Nations can use financial support for what they are doing as well as more volunteer workers.
                                       http://www.wildrockies.org/Buffalo/index.html

BUFFALO NATIONS   PO Box 957   WEST YELLOWSTONE MT  597758                 

As of January 30, Montana Department of Livestock had killed 11 buffalo.  In spite of efforts to prevent it, nine males were baited into a pen and five of them sent to slaughter.  Shot to death on another occasion were three females and their calves.  Corey Massico, 17, of New Hampshire was arrested for trying to position himself between these animals and the gunners.  Carcasses have wound up in the dump.  Rosalie Little Thunder described them as "innocent victims of pathological politics".

There is no evidence of brucellosis transmission from buffalo to cows and not even the remotest possibility of transmission from bulls and yearlings.

REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL WHALING CONVENTION
MEETING FROM CONGRESSMAN JACK METCALF

Thank you for contacting me and indicating your opposition to the Makah Tribe's intention to kill gray whales.  It has been my intention to vigorously oppose this hunt, and to try to protect these creatures.  A gray whale hunt could devastate the tourism industry in our state (Washington), compromise our quality of life, and potentially endanger those who recreate and travel in the Olympic Marine Sanctuary.

Because of confusion in media coverage I'd like to give you a brief update on what transpired at the Convention meeting.  Contrary to press reports, the U.S. delegation (representing the views of the Clinton Administration) to the International Whaling Convention (IWC) absolutely failed in getting any IWC authorization for the Makah whale hunt.  Three elders from the Tribe attended and vigorously opposed resuming whaling.  Their efforts, plus a letter that I sent opposing the hunt which was signed by 43 other members of Congress, successfully helped sway support against the U.S. delegation's Makah proposal.  In the face of strong IWC opposition to the original Makah proposal, the U.S. delegation, in a desperate effort to grant the Makah the right to hunt whales, cut a deal with the Russian government.  The agreement is to allow the Makah Tribe to hunt 4 of the whales from the Russian quota under the definition of "cultural subsistence". The previous U.S. position has been to oppose whaling by anyone, except in cases of true subsistence need.

This was immediately recognized as a ploy to get around the IWC, and the Australian delegation offered an amendment that would require that any group hunting whales prove that the whale meat is essential for their nutritional subsistence.  This amendment was designed and passed to prohibit  the Makah hunt under the laws of the IWC.  Having settled the issue, the IWC then adjourned.

In an amazing demonstration of bureaucratic arrogance the U.S. delegation, ignoring the IWC and the Australian Amendment, announced they were going ahead with the Russian allocation and the Makah cultural subsistence whale hunt!  As you can plainly see, this is not the end of this story.

Unfortunately, expanding the IWC definition to include cultural subsistence will expand whale hunting to any nation with a coastline on the ocean and any history of whale hunting.  In light of their actions, how can the U.S. now oppose any nation that demands "cultural subsistence" rights?

Thank you for your much needed support on this important issue.  I will continue to vigorously oppose the slaughter of whales in our waters, and work in opposition to any resumption of commercial whale hunting.  I will keep you updated on any new information I receive on this important issue.  (signed) Jack Metcalf

           Previous update        Following  update      Winter  97-98"C-paper"