Adele Ferguson - Salmon, Nebraska, marijuana

ITEM–State officials are working on a plan to contract out the operation of a Hood Canal salmon hatchery, an effort that could lead to private operation of other hatcheries throughout the state. The plan is to contract out the operation of the McKernan hatchery on Weaver Creek, a tributary of the Skokomish River, which is otherwise scheduled to close June 30. McKernan produces chum salmon as well as steelhead. Commercial fishers don’t want to reduce chum production but don’t care about steelhead which cannot be taken commercially.

COMMENT-–-Why do we keep wasting good salmon rearing space on chum or dog salmon, the scrap fish of the salmon family? The flesh isn’t even salmon colored cooked or canned but yellow and its chief use is tribal harvest of roe which is sold to Asians. The original plan was to convert Hood Canal spawning streams from cohos and kings to chum in exchange or hopes that the tribes would leave fishing for the prime salmon in the waters outside the canal to the sportsmen only that didn’t happen.

ITEM–Republican attorneys general in 13 states, including Washington, say congressional leaders must remove Nebraska’s political deal from the federal health care reform bill or face legal action. Sen. Ben Nelson pledged the 60th or closing-the-deal vote for the bill after getting a promise that the feds would permanently cover the full cost in Nebraska of expanding Medicaid. Other states must pay for their own expansions which, the AGs said, makes the Nebraska deal unconstitutional.

COMMENT–I don’t know which are worse, members of Congress or the Somali pirates. The pirates capture and hold hostage merchant ships with valuable cargo while they dicker over ransom for safe return of ship and crew. Members of Congress stall action on desired bills until they negotiate payoffs for their districts in exchange for their votes. At least the pirates are honest about what they are. Can’t say the same for Congress. Latest on this deal is Nebraskans feel humiliated by their senator.

ITEM–Washington is one of four states where measures to legalize and regulate marijuana have been introduced, and two dozen other states are considering bills ranging from medical marijuana to decriminalizing possession of small amounts. Selling MJ in state liquor stores with customers paying a tax of 15 percent per gram was estimated to bring in $300 million a year, the same as alcohol sales produce.

COMMENT–The real savings would be in decriminalization by reclassifying adult possession of MJ from a crime with jail time to a civil infraction with a $100 penalty. What bothers me though is a statement I heard from a veteran law enforcement officer who said every arrest he ever saw for serious drug use, i.e., cocaine, heroine, had its beginning in marijuana.

ITEM–Three state lawmakers want to ban the sale of military-style semi-automatic weapons in Washington. Police believe a .223-calibre semi-automatic rifle was used in the killing of Seattle Police officer Tim Brenton and the wounding of his partner Oct. 31. The ban would cover semiautomatics designed for military use that are capable of rapid fire and can hold more than 10 rounds. Semiautomatics designed for sporting or hunting purposes wouldn’t be banned.

COMMENT–I’d extend the ban to semiautomatics designed for sporting or hunting purposes. Having killed six deer with my 250-3000 Savage rifle. I think all that’s required is a keen eye and a good shot, and leave the rapid fires to military and law enforcement. As it is, Davy Crockett must be in a perpetual spin in his grave.

(Adele Ferguson can be reached at P.O. Box 69. Hansville, Wa., 98340.)