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Conference wahoo::fishing

Title:Fishing Notes- Archived
Notice:See note 555.1 for a keyword directory of this conference
Moderator:DONMAC::MACINTYRE
Created:Fri Feb 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Sep 20 1991
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1660
Total number of notes:20970

1118.0. "Maine Vandalism" by ARGUS::BISSELL () Thu Apr 27 1989 15:02

The Boston Globe today had a short article reporting that a Vandal in Maine
had pulled the plug on the tank containing the breeder stock for Trout
and they were killed.  This was apparently the 1 year old stock that they were
keeping for the new breeders.   I hope they catch the person who did this
and deal with them appropriately.


T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
1118.1STOP Abusers!STOWMA::LANGEToxic Waste PinataThu Apr 27 1989 15:2219
    They should pull his plug so as he can't breed...
    
    Eye for ??? yeah...Eye for an Eye....
    
    a side note,also having to do with people abusing resources...
    The drummer of the band I'm in told me last night,the he went for a
    bike ride,and saw two guys fishing at this pond,located on the back
    road to SPAG'S in Shrewsbury...Appearently it had been stocked this
    past week,and these two jokers,I was told,had at least 25 trout 
    LESS THAN SIX INCHES LONG!...My friend said there were trout flippin
    around on the shore,and a few in this 5 gal. pail that weren't long
    enough to touch the sides of the pail.
    
    I asked my friend to take another ride,and if he's sees these clowns
    again,start up a conversation with them,and remember their license
    numbers,(if they even bothered to get one) ride back home,and call the 
    Westboro Fish,and Wildlife people and report them.
    
    I hope that would be the right thing to do....
1118.2stupid people...CASV05::PRESTONBetter AI than none at allThu Apr 27 1989 16:5010
    There are such rabid anti-bloodsport "activists" that it is not
    inconceivable that this trout breeder-tank incident was perpetrated
    by somebody like that. I'm sure Maine has at least their fair share
    of those people. If it as a vandal, well, some people get their
    kicks from destroying anything that took a lot of work to create.
    Of course, it's always someone elses work they destroy, never their
    own...
    
    Ed
    
1118.3thay should be nukedDNEAST::DANFORTH_DANFri Apr 28 1989 17:5712
       
    
    	It appeared that whoever broke in to the hatchery wasn't even
    	awareof what they had done. Fish and game officials seem to
        think it was a bunch of kids that did it. The fish were 3-4
    	yearold stock that were going to be used as breeder stock.
    	F+G estimates the loss at $200,000.00and says the stocking
    	program is really going to suffer for the next 5 years or so.
    
    
    							dan
    	
1118.4Pull Their Plugs!EXIT26::DROSSELReal Men Double HaulFri Apr 28 1989 18:566
    re: 118.1 !!!!!!!!!!
    
    Pull their plugs so they can't breed!!!!!!!
    
                                        Spring Creek Steve
    
1118.5WHODUNNITDNEAST::SLADE_DICKMon May 01 1989 17:374
    IT APPEARS THAT SOME LOCAL POLICE AND A FIREMAN WERE SOMEHOW INVOLVED
    ACCORDING TO SATURDAYS KENNEBEC JOURNAL.  AS USUAL WHEN OFFICIALS
    ARE INVOLVED.  MUMS THE WORD.  NOTHING IN TODAYS PAPER. THEY WERE
    SUSPENDED WITH PAY PENDING AN INVESTIGATION.
1118.6More InfoCURIE::HILLSONRISC-y businessMon May 01 1989 19:31145
              <<< DNEAST::SYS$PROD3:[NOTES$LIBRARY]MAINE.NOTE;1 >>>
                            -< The Pine Tree State >-
================================================================================
Note 259.0                Dead Fish ... a sad story...                 5 replies
DNEAST::BUTTERMAN_HO                                 33 lines   1-MAY-1989 12:28
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    	I don't usually "get on my high horse" about things, at least
    not publicly but a follow up article in yesterdays Maine Sunday
    Telegram REALLY has me fried!
    
    	Last week a large quantity of (fish) breeding stock were found
    suffocated in their pools - the result of vandals pulling the plug
    on their pool and leaving them dead!  The State Dept of Inland
    Fisheries stated last week that it would take four years to replenish
    breeding stock of that age/quality.
    
    	Well, in the paper yesterday it stated that the vandalism had
    been performed by four men - three of whom are Augusta City Police
    and one who is a city fireman.  Currently they have been suspended
    WITH pay from their duties.........
    
    	THIS MAKES ME IRATE - these men have performed acts unacceptable
    by anyone whether they are children or adults - they have violated
    the rights of each of us, taxpayers, fishermen, sportsmen or not!!!!
    (not to mention killing innocent fish but I don't want to even get
     started on that....)
    
    	We pay those guys salaries - they're suppose to be setting an
    example for the community...   what they have done is unacceptable
    and not forgivable.  I was trying to think if they should have the
    'opportunity' to repay their responsibility by performing some public
    service, but decided that in MY mind the answer is no.  They should
    be relieved of their positions,  immediately.
    
    	Thanks for the chance to get this one off my mind.  I am going
    to write a letter to the Chief of Police and Fire Departments -
    since they apparently will make the decision as to these guys' futures.
    
    	hurumph...
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Note 259.1                Dead Fish ... a sad story...                    1 of 5
VOLVO::REED                                           9 lines   1-MAY-1989 12:36
                             -< Keep us informed >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    
    
    It's such a stupid thing to do, why did they do it?  How were they
    found out, caught, etc?  Were they trying to get back at the state
    for some reason or another?
    
    Please keep us informed.
                           
    
================================================================================
Note 259.2                Dead Fish ... a sad story...                    2 of 5
LEDDEV::WATSON "No_Mad"                              16 lines   1-MAY-1989 14:03
                                 -< Fish Fry >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I read about this in yesterday's Boston Sunday Globe and it pissed me off!
Such senseless vandalism.. in NYC, they call it "wilding."

RE: .1
I wonder, too, how they were caught.  If they are already guilty - that is,
they've made statements to that fact, or similar - how is it they were
suspended WITH pay??

Ya gotta love this country - wear a badge and get away with most anything.
Community service??  Yeah, walk the entire length of the Maine Turnpike - both
directions - behind a truck picking up anything larger than a cigarette butt.
Otherwise, fire them immediately, and don't allow them to ever again hold any
State- or town- or county-related position, and don't allow them or their
immediate families to ever own a fishing license.

Kip (who doesn't fish, but respects all fauna)
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Note 259.3                Dead Fish ... a sad story...                    3 of 5
NRPUR::BALSAMO "Save the Wails"                      13 lines   1-MAY-1989 14:34
                      -< Innocent until proven guilty... >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


   RE: 259.0 <DNEAST::BUTTERMAN_HO>

   >Currently they have been suspended WITH pay from their duties.........

       What is wrong with that?  Let's turn the tables.  If you had done what
   these men had done, do you think that you should be suspended from Digital
   without pay?  This crime has nothing to do with there employment, and,
   until they are convicted, they are innocent until proven guilty!

   Nobody asked...
   Tony
   
================================================================================
Note 259.4                Dead Fish ... a sad story...                    4 of 5
DNEAST::HAYNES_JERRY                                 20 lines   1-MAY-1989 14:46
                              -< Guilty already? >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Re: .0
    
    I believe you'll find that the news article says "...were suspended
    for off-duty misconduct at the Governor's Hill Fish Hatchery." 
    It also said "Augusta Police refused to make a connection between
    the suspensions and the death of the fish."
    I attended the Criminal Justice Academy with Lt. Petela in 1978
    and I was Officer Kinsella's sergeant in Oakland when he first got
    into law enforcement.  It's really hard for me to imagine that either
    of these men would intentionally do anything like this, but "Who
    knows what evil lurks..."
    I'm not saying that because they're cops, they couldn't have done
    it, and I would be as upset as anyone if I suspected a cover-up.
    I agree that the suspension with pay was the correct thing to do
    pending a full investigation.  I also believe that the Augusta Police,
    the District Attorney and/or the Attorney General will see that
    those responsible are punished for their crimes, BUT.....how about
    investigation, indictment, and adjudication before we incinerate
    four careers. (Kind of like we do for regular people.)
    If they're guilty, Holly, I'm with you.
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Note 259.5                Dead Fish ... a sad story...                    5 of 5
DNEAST::BUTTERMAN_HO                                 17 lines   1-MAY-1989 15:16
                       -< well... not quite guilty yet >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    
    
    you're right Jerry...  investigate, indict and follow through...
    
    and I do worry that they WILL be found guilty - I can't imagine
    why ANYONE would do such a thing.  But, ok, I am willing to let
    the process take its path - as long as nothing is being covered
    up....
    
    I think I'll check further into the current situation and see  
    what else I can find out.. will follow up with any info.......
    
    humm.. if there is no connection between the suspensions and the
    death of the fish I wonder why they ran the info in the same article?
    
    let me muster all my patience - and check in tomorrow - h	
    
1118.7make 'em payWAHOO::LEVESQUETorpedo the dam, full speed asternTue May 02 1989 12:198
 I think that should these "gentlemen" be convicted of vandalism, they 
ought to be forced to pay restitution for what the fish were worth ($200K).
They should also be relieved of their duties under the moral turpitude clause
that gets written into just about every employment contract.

 The Doctah

ps- I am really curious as to WHY these (or whoever) did this.
1118.8reasons?LUDWIG::KHOUGHTONWed May 03 1989 06:2720
    It seems to me that one possible reason for wiping out a brood stock
    would be that this person or persons feels very strongly against
    "polluting" our remaining native species with pale, stupid, sterile
    stockies. Risking possible lynching, perhaps I could bring up a
    few reasons why some true sportsmen dont feel that stocking programs
    as they are implemented in this country are the best thing for the
    health of the sport, the industry or the fish themselves.
    Not to condone any action against our current method of carring
    for this industry (fishing), maybe these guys read the same article
    I did, Frankenstiens Fish, by Ted Williams.
    Think about it, should we be trying so hard to develop a fish that
    can thrive in pea soup, or should we perhaps try a little harder
    to bring our waters back to a condition which will support the
    fishes that have spent the last ten thousand years adapting them-
    selves to our rivers.
    Cops who break the law get my vote for a MOST severe punishment,
    but I wonder if we might see an improvement in the native brookie
    population because of thousands less test tube trout.
                      My opinion,
                                    Ken Houghton
1118.10Turned themselves in because.....?????VICKI::DODIERWed May 03 1989 17:295
    	Does anyone know for sure that this was a deliberate act of
    vandalism ? I can't think off hand of how it could have been done
    accidently but I have not seen anything other than what I read in here.
    
    	RAYJ
1118.11Recovery ???EXIT26::DROSSELReal Men Double HaulWed May 03 1989 20:2613
    
    Make'em repay to the cent........
    
    The sad incident does bring up one of my pet peeves....not really
    related to the killing....but...Why does the state spend SO much
    effort in keeping the less-hardy sqaretail the predominent species
    when the brown has many advantages in its will to survive, thrive
    and feed on the surface??  
    
    Originally from Bangor.......
                                  Love_Brooktrout_But_Am_Addicted_To_Browns
                                  Spring Creek Steve
    
1118.12DECEAT::KELLIHEREd KelliherFri Oct 20 1989 14:355
    
    ...what became the final "verdict" on this ?
    
    Ed