New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is seeking the cooperation of all recreational anglers in conducting a comprehensive survey of sport-fishing activity in the Hudson River.
The survey is designed to elicit information about angler preferences and satisfaction and provide the DEC with necessary data to effectively manage the diverse recreational fishery resources in the Hudson River.
The $598,242 study, funded through the Hudson River Estuary Action Plan, will use several angler counting or contact methods. They include: aerial observations; interviews at boat ramps, marinas, and popular shore fishing sites; attendance at tournament weigh-ins; and follow-up mail surveys. Anglers may be interviewed once or multiple times during the fishing season. Throughout the survey period anglers willing to provide additional information on their fishing trips are being requested to answer a mail survey.
The survey, which started in the spring and continues through February 2002, will seek information from tournament and non-tournament anglers. Once completed, the survey will describe catch and harvest, estimate total fishing effort, including length of fishing trips and estimated expenditures, total harvest and catch for all species, and total harvest and catch for specific species.
This is the first comprehensive, year-long survey of the Hudson that focuses specifically on recreational uses for all fisheries on the river, including blue claw crab and herring.
Once completed, the survey will be used to meet specific objectives including annual estimates of striped bass and American shad angling activity and harvesting.
*
The Great Outdoor Games, which were so successful last year, will return to Lake Placid July 12-15. The inaugural event drew more than 15,000 spectators and 200 competitors from around the world competing in fishing, timber events, target sports and sporting dogs. This year’s event will be aired July 26 – August 3 on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC.
Events are free to the public and will again be held at the Olympic Speed Skating Oval, Mirror Lake, and other nearby venues.
*
Did you ever ask yourself just how much money do some of these animal rights organizations have to spend on their efforts to end hunting, fishing and trapping?
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), one of the largest such organizations, total revenue for 1999 was $67,170,449. Its total assets were $107,886,703.
With this kind of money, one would think local animal shelters that HSUS refuses to assist would be able to provide their animals with mineral water in gold bowls. However, less than one percent of its 1999 income was given to protect wildlife, save animal habitat or provide shelters.
The HSUS continues to solicit Americans through membership requests that promise to help local animal shelters. It actually uses its money to mislead the public about hunting and fishing and to provide funds to stop the use of animals in research trying to find a cure for such diseases as AIDS and cancer. Of course, they use some of the money to try to raise more money.