KILLER WHALES; BIKERS OF WHALE WORLD

(Guest Writer: Indian Aaron)

Killer Whales, Not Orcas, but killers of whales, sea lions and salmon. (mmmm, sealions, chewy on the outside, crunchy on the inside...)

Well, Dexter talked about going Reef Net fishing, but he's a nerd and couldn't tell a Bunt from a Breast winch, Or a Head from a Bridge winch...

Occasionally this year I walked on a friends ReefNetter after having thought I had this stuff all out of my system. You know, I don't miss Crabbing or long line pot fishing for Prawns. I kinda miss Gillnetting, but not really.

But the wonderfully tar-healed technology of reefnetting is deep down in my blood. From 1985 through 2002 I regularly fished all 4 of these fisheries, and retired with my land and my home 100% paid off.

For those of you who aren't familiar with Reefnetting, it is two 40' boats, anchored to an artificial reef made of giant anchors, netlines, buoy lines, wall lines and floor lines all shaped to funnel fish up to a net that is strung between the two anchored boats, that drift from side to side as the flood tide changes back and forth from onshore flood to offshore flood. Behind and to the sides of the gear are two breast anchors connected to the Breast winches. Reefnetters are always pulling breast or cutting breast. (sounds kinda weird...)

Anyway, we're standing in the towers like monkeys on a stick staring in the water looking for sockeye...or color changes deep in the water that don't quite look right so we can haul the Head winches up to close the door behind them as they swim in. The Bunt winch aids in trapping the fish from going through and the Bridge winch makes a cut across the net to make for less work in hauling the fish on board. (Until you've hauled 200 to 300 fish in one haul, you have not lived!)

It wasn't a productive day yesterday for the crew and operator, but for me it was nice to be back out there. We noticed these tour boats converging to the south of us and were pushing their way in toward where the reefnet fleet is anchored. Well these nitwits were chasing "Orcas" so their clients could observe nature and whatever else it is they do on those tour boats. It was too bad that the coast guard didn't arrive earlier to chase off the tour boats as they eventually did, but not after we had an encounter that was well AWEsome to use an overused word.

We noticed a group of 2 juveniles and 2 adults aiming right for our Head cans (Buoys) in the front of our reef. As the captain of the gear picked up the heads of the net to allow them to go under us if they actually came down the gear, I barked to the crew and other guests to get in the big skiff and be ready to cut the lines (in case everything goes bad and the whales get entangled in the gear, anybody who doesn't need to be on the gear isn't taking any chances.)

Before the captain, his dad, one senior crewman and myself could get down out of the towers

we could see 3 of the 4 in the reef.

A small one stayed way back from us, but Mom and Pop came right down the outside wall lines an and first one rolled almost right against the net and on the first couple of floor lines to the inside wall lines and back out. The other came like a giant torpedo right down the middle and rolled to the outside and back out the wall lines as if to let junior know, "You ain't playin' here!"

Being that close to some behemoth that is the size of our boat moving that fast with that much power, damn near made me piddle my little britches...Anyway, this group of renegades was not the only group to come roaring through the reefnet fleet that day as another group of Whale watching "experts" chased them into the area. At least these roared through inside of our gear and not through it. Behind us, both groups took some time to brutalize some of the local seals. They will pick them up and throw them, smack them around with tails like a bunch of rugby players, and the water becomes almost as bloody as a rugby field...

This isn't the first time during my years as a commercial fisherman that I have had these Killer Whales approach me while I'm fishing, and every time I wonder if the kayakers and tour boat operators really truly have an appreciation for the power and damage that these beasts can do intentionally or even unintentionally. I won't be surprised if some giant Bull someday or an over sized aggressive teenage whale decides to finally uncork all that power on some tour boat or group of kayakers. If they're surprised, then they truly don't understand why I give lots of room to any Critter that is as big as my boat. Even the "passive" locals have the power to do serious damage while being "playful" but the nomadic Killers of Whales mean business as they roll through, even the local pods give them room.

The bikers of the whale world...fearsome power as impressive as any mammal I've ever seen.

I intend on giving them lots of room.

SNAKE WAVING

Originally I had planned to go out on a friend's Reefnet gear today, but it looks like maybe Saturday. Might be the final day for the Test catch. I hope that All the rest of the US fishermen get another opener while the fish are showing up this month. Now I remember why I retired from Commercial Fishing.

But instead, I was inspired by Alan Rhodes of the Cascadia Weekly, a fishwrapper of the second magnitude on page 6 of this Link: http://www.cascadiaweekly.com/pdfs/issues/200833.pdf
(Fishwrappers of first magnitude have more black and white and less color. Makes for a much better wrap for fish without the color pictures...)

I decided to try snake waving, not sure what it was, of course I had to ask the smartest person I knew...my wife. That didn't work out so good. I thought that large amounts of tequila was involved, and so were lots of naked women and some Dionysian kind of thing...maybe it was how I asked the question...you know, steak really does work good for my black eyes...(watch out for left handed ladies...)

I also miss the days where I could force my deckhands to work 20 hour days, force my kids into slave labor processing my fish, but you know, if occasionally they lost a finger into the canned goods, I knew that I wouldn't have my health care dictated to me by any State, or worse yet, being told I need health care when I don't want it, or heaven forbid, that I should have to pay for the doctor to sew up my kids,when I could electrical tape the wound for them all by myself...
"Health Care" is really just a code word for impeding Natural Selection... (My "Campaign for Liberty" buddies will never be near as paranoid as I am...Amatuers...)

Did Alice Cooper and Barry Goldwater really party together...or did someone else make that up before I did...?



(Socialism is the enemy of all free men...)

SAUK MOUNTAIN TRAGEDY

First off, this is a terrible tragedy.
I feel badly for the hiker and her friends and family. I feel badly for the young hunter who probably will suffer for many long years.
The loss of life of a hiker and the long lasting effect on a young hunter has already brought about blather on the local radio station about having an age limit on hunting and requiring hikers to wear orange during hunting seasons etc. I'm sure I can find other examples of piousness in other venues too. But I really want to avoid that.

I originally started writing about this right after it happened and found myself preaching about spotting your target first through binoculars and not through your scope, and by the time I was done I discovered that I had pretty much summarized portions of the Hunters safety course.
I found myself pontificating about why hikers should wear orange during hunting season.

Which hunting season?
Deer?
Elk?
Ducks?
Bear?
Cougar?
how about Coyote? 365 days a year, etc.
How many folks know the safety requirements for these seasons?
Then it dawned on me... I was NOT there nor did I know the conditions.

I erased it. Now here I am starting over, and all I can say is that I wasn't there. I don't know the light conditions during the tragedy, I know the terrain and that there is different vegitation in different areas.

Age limitations are not going to prevent this tragedy, as this is a rare occurrence and older hunters have made the same tragic error.

A few seasons ago, I spotted a fine looking black bear, looked at it through the binoculars and told my 14 year old kid to take the shot. He said it was a no go.
I asked why not? there was a clear shot, perfect backstop of hillside, and no brush in the way.
He told me that "She" had 2 cubs. I kept looking for them and couldn't see them. ( I hate to admit that he saw them with his naked eyes.) After a few minutes, I finally saw them in the shadows of a pile of stumps.

Had my son not been with me, I probably would have been responsible for harvesting a mom with cubs. Not (big fine) illegal, but highly unethical.

New Regulations won't prevent this tragedy in the future, but many will use it as an excuse to campaign for new rules, regs and laws, as sure as local folks who were not present will continue to blather on about how to solve or prevent these events from occurring.

Me, I'm going to reread my Hunters Safety Manual.
Even though I hunt on Private Lands by permission, each year I run into trespassers, and I hunt on public lands and come across legitimate hikers. Divergent User Groups are everywhere.

Nothing I can say will make the young Hunter feel better, nor will it bring back the hiker to her friends and family.

Normally I don't mind sounding a little ignorant, or putting my foot in my mouth.
All I can really say is that I feel bad for all involved.

UPDATE:08 13 08 It appears that the Skagit County Prosecutor has filed charges against the young Hunter for First Degree Manslaughter. I'm not surprised, nor should the young hunter be surprised.

With Individual Liberty comes Individual Responsibility.
If you're a hiker, make yourself visible.
If you're a hunter, Spot with your binoculars, and not your scope.
Again, I wasn't there, but these are my best guesses as to went wrong.

ROSSI IS AN ANTI -INDIAN RASCIST...NOT!!!

(OK, so I butchered a press release...Fire me!)
(no, really, please...)

The Grinch accuses BIAW anti corruption ad as "Racist" as Diversion to Avoid Answering Questions.
Governor Christine Gregoire was quoted in a questionable alternative lifestyle magazine interview and mainstream news reports piled on against Rossi yesterday as claiming that an ad questioning her actions in turning away state revenue to benefit tribal casino operators in exchange for campaign contributions was "racist".

It appears that there may be a conflict of interest surrounding Gov. Gregoire's involvement in renegotiating a gaming compact that eliminated revenue sharing with the state. it is reported that Gov. Gregoire and the State Democratic Party then accepted over $650,000 worth of casino money. William Thompson, a University of Nevada-Las Vegas professor who has been studying tribal gambling since 1988, called it "a payoff."

"Dino Rossi is one-half Tlingit Alaskan Native and he has made clear that the issue isn't about the tribes, who should be expected to negotiate the best deal possible," said Jill Strait, Rossi spokesperson. "The unanswered question is why Christine Gregoire gave away $140 million a year in state revenue. She's refused to answer specific questions put forth by state legislators and refused to allow a public investigation into this matter. If she has nothing to hide, then she should welcome an investigation to remove the ethical cloud over her head.

"The issue isn't whether the tribal casino compacts themselves are illegal, and it isn't about race. The issue is whether there were illegal or unethical discussions surrounding the compacts. Because of Gregoire Washington may be the only state not to require revenue sharing from casino operators. It seems those casino operators have donated hundreds of thousands to help elect Gregoire.

Was there a Back Room Deal?

Did Gregoire or her agents have an agreement with the casino operators that included some mutual backscratching that brought these campaign dollars?

Since I can never be encumbered by an intellect or facts, I presume that someone can hunt down the real details. Never take my word or any other bloggers' word for fact.
Go look for them on your own.

If Dino is a rascist, then I am an itellectual giant...

7TH INNING STRETCH

This Seventh Inning Stretch is brought to you by DINO ROSSI!

I love it! Finally, one of our folks gets it. Advertising on news channels and talk radio only appeals to those who are already on board.
But for the average guy who works long hours doesn't want to be bothered by blather from the left or the right or to be bludgeoned with the nightly drive by news report.
He's gonna relax and watch sports. A quick little hello there during the stretch in the game will be noticed and especially by a civil little ad.

Now, me... I'm still waiting for a politician who isn't afraid to show beer and babes in his or her ads...

THAT WILL DEFINITELY GET MY ATTENTION!

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!

What on Earth are you doing on the Internet today.

Stop That!

Go outside and play!

Oh and by the way, to all my good friends who are still subjects of the Queen (you know who you are)...

We Won!!! We Won!!!

Twice...

Anyway, I have to go wire up our local fireworks show, so get outside and enjoy the Day.

No Really, I mean it...

TIMMY SAYS GRINCH STOLE $30.00 TABS

(Well, not quite, but here is TIMMY!)

(When I last spoke with Timmy, he still gave me permission to reprint his updates, even with my picture pick of him...)

June 27, 2008
To: Our thousands of supporters throughout the state (cc'd to all media outlets -- reporters, columnists, editorial writers, and others in newspapers, radio, and TV)
From: Tim Eyman, Jack Fagan, Mike Fagan, & Mike Dunmire, ph:
425-493-9127, email: tim@permanent-offense.org, http://www.ReduceCongestion.org
RE: Aberdeen: latest city to back down on hiking car tabs
It's infuriating that our car tabs aren't $30. Voters have twice approved $30 car tabs and politicians promised to keep car tabs at $30.
Nonetheless, no one is paying $30. Christine Gregoire took away our $30 tabs twice: once in 2005 when she imposed weight fees on vehicles and once last year when she gave cities and counties the authority to unilaterally jack up vehicle tabs without a vote of the people. You may remember that I attended Gregoire's bill signing ceremony and appeared in the picture with a frown and gave it a big 'thumbs down.'
Ever since then, we've been banging away at cities and counties to NOT impose higher car tabs -- so far, we've been 100% successful -- not a single city or county has jacked up car tabs using the authority that Gregoire gave them last year.
This week, Aberdeen became the latest city to back down on hiking car tabs.
Here's a few highlights from Thursday's news story about it:
* The notion of boosting car tab fees in the City of Aberdeen appears
to be dead on arrival because "there's not enough political will to do it."
* Several council members were miffed that initiative guru Tim Eyman
had issued a warning that hiking car tab fees would be "like building a castle on quicksand"
* Councilman John Smith, who last week was one of the major proponents
of a new $20 fee on car tabs, said after the meeting, "Frankly, I don't think there's enough political will to do a car tab tax, even if it is the best direct user fee. Politically I think it's a dead horse and I don't think I'm going to beat on it. I tested the waters and I think it's been rejected. "So call off Tim Eyman," Smith had said during an earlier committee hearing. Eyman has spearheaded several anti-tax campaigns, including a measure bringing the cost of car tabs to around $30.
"Dare ya"
After he caught wind of the proposed car tab increase, Eyman wrote a letter to council members and the press, basically daring the city to implement the tax and promising to lobby hard against the measure.
"If your City Council jacks up car tabs, it'll be like building a castle on quicksand - it will not last," Eyman said. "With the 2005 Legislature jacking up car tabs by imposing weight fees on vehicles - in clear violation of their promise to keep tabs at $30; Sound Transit continuing to collect car tab fees the voters repealed in 2002, we're just waiting for cities and counties to jack up car tabs without a vote of the people to provide enough critical mass to do another initiative. It's not a matter of 'if' - just 'when' we do it. Not a single city or county has unilaterally hiked car tabs without a vote of the people using this authority. Everyone understands that it'll just throw gasoline on the fire for another initiative."
Steve Puvogel, an Aberdeen resident, said if the council wanted to move ahead with a car tab increase, it should.
"Personally, I'm not afraid of Tim Eyman," Puvogel said.
"Neither are we," said Councilman Fritts, who added after the meeting that he wasn't sure if he'd support increasing a car tab tax or even a utility tax but wants the discussion, at least, to move forward.
-- END --
Here's a link to the Daily World news story:
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/06/26/local_news/03news.txt
We've got just 7 days left to collect more voter signatures for I-985. We need your help to make it.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, please fill out the form below & send us a donation of $10, $25, $50, $100, $250, $500, $1,000 or more (there's no limit on amount that can be given) to our offices in Spokane. You can also contribute online using VISA or MasterCard or PayPal:
http://www.ReduceCongestion.org. However you want to do it, please send in your most generous contribution RIGHT NOW.
Please do everything you can to help. FULL STEAM AHEAD!
Best Regards, Tim Eyman, Jack Fagan, Mike Fagan, & Mike Dunmire, ph:
425-493-9127, email: tim@permanent-offense.org, http://www.ReduceCongestion.org
P.S. Here's a quick summary of this year's initiative:
ReduceCongestion.org I-985 implements the State Auditor's recommendations to reform the Department of Transportation and reduce traffic congestion by using existing public resources more effectively. It opens carpool lanes to everyone during non-peak hours, requires local governments to synchronize traffic lights on heavily-traveled arterials and streets, and increases roadside assistance funding to clear out accidents faster with the implementation overseen by the State Auditor. These policies are funded by taxes and charges we already pay: 15% of vehicle sales taxes, revenue from fines generated from red light traffic cameras, and a percentage that previously went to art on transportation-related public works projects. Finally, I-985 doesn't impose tolls, but it institutes critical taxpayer protections if tolls are created and levied.
ReduceCongestion.org (Reduce Traffic Congestion Initiative) . PO Box 18250 Spokane . WA . 99228 . PH: 425-493-8707 . FAX: 425-493-1027 .
http://www.ReduceCongestion.org . email: jakatak@comcast.net