Wrongful Death

[gf]

Date_ 08/18/99 Location_Pumpkinvine Creek at Paul Harris Road bridge in Paulding County. Observation_several dead trout on sandy bank (you could see impressions from the impact), probably a dozen or so struggling in the warm water and 5 or 6 already barely swimming on their sides. This is just another example of the incompetence of the Summerville State Hatchery. This creek probably shouldn't be stocked at all. Temps too high, except early part of season. Why doesn't the tank truck driver check temps and make an intelligent decision to divert this portion of allocated fish to another location where they can at least survive long enough to be caught and not just wasted? I know time is a factor and that it is not realistic to believe that quantities of fish can be stocked with zero casualties, but this is ridiculous. Can't they at least hit the water with them? I obviously don't have all the facts, the fish could possibly have already been severly overstressed in the tank. Even so, is a creek the proper place to dispose of dying fish.

All of us that fish the streams stocked by Buford Hatchery should be grateful we have a person like Bill C. in charge. Not only is he extremely conscientious and knowledgeable, he is always willing to share this information and investigate to find answers. It's a shame his and Lisa's ability to respond on this board have been restricted.

The Summerville Hatchery, on the other hand, is little more than a clown show. Just try calling with an intelligent question and see what response you get. I sure there are problems, probably inadequate budget and under staffed.

Where in the great DNR bureaucracy can an individual call to register a proper complaint?

[The Ole Man]

gf
All very good points. Just can't help but weigh in on something I hear on this board all the time- "probably inadequate budget, understaffed". Sometimes the expression is "limited resources", ect. Just want to point out that over the past decade or so, the state has built 8 Public Fishing Areas. As near as I can tell, they encomp****some 2,500 acres. Imagine if you will what the cost is to develop 2,500 acres including land,lake construction, infrastructure, fertilization and maintenance programs. This has to be up in the 10's of millions-maybe 100's of millions of dollars and the costs are ongoing. So, putting it bluntly, when it comes to mealy mouthing about the DNR's or WRD's or the State's "lack of resources" or "limited budgets" in the area of "Fishing"-BULL MANURE. They've got the money.

[Rod]

Jack,
will you be my adopted grand pa?
You kick ***!

Rod
Future cynic

[dredger]

gf,

The word I have is that the truck driver has no authority to decide if the water is too warm, etc. He is a delivery man with a tight schedule. Even if he starts the job loving the fish and trying to get them into the water with some care, the pressure is to get out and get back within a tight schedule. The fish become a commodity like gravel, dump it and go.

[The Ole Man]

Rod:
You bet. I want to meet you on the Hooch sometime-and burn a few http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/smile.gif

[Rod]

T.O.M.
I'm thinking of hitting Settles or the dam in the morning...you have plans...anyone else have plans....

As for burning a few I quit cigarettes...again


cigar or two might be sweet...I enjoy inserting them ala Luinsky and Houston into the fish lips...yuck, sounded like owl...now, how do I type those *****smilies??

Rod
old enough to know

[NiteOwl]

Stocked trout 'are' just a 'package'. I've watched as the personnel have (slapped, thrown, slammed, smashed) stocked fish and wondered how any of them survive the shock.
Maybe that explains the " mortality" issues on Smith's creek.


Owl - " Why no fish left,... poaching ???
DNR official answer - " Mortality high..."



Uh - huh. Right.



Enough to make you want to take up programming.....OOoops, sorry aaron ! hehehe

[Tom]

hate to bring this up Owl, but after all, they are only fish!
Sincerely, Tom