ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, April 28, 1996 TAG: 9604290096
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-10 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: OUTDOORS
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN
Picture this: A bunch of good old boys are having a bass tournament when the PETA gang shows up.
PETA stands for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. It is a major animal-rights organization, the first to come out publicly against fishing.
The PETA people have their 6-foot-tall mascot, Gil the Fish. They begin throwing rocks where the bass boys are fishing. Some buzz the bass boats with their own craft.
What do you think the bass boys will do?
B.A.S.S. hopes they will turn the other cheek.
``The last thing anglers should do is engage these groups in public debate,'' Don Corkran, national federation director for B.A.S.S, recently told bass anglers. ``Just walk away. Do not attempt to rationalize with them. Their cause is founded upon their ability to attract media coverage.''
PETA has been grabbing headlines with announcements that it plans anti-fishing demonstrations around the country this summer. PETA says it will be at tournaments, at lakes and at piers protesting, handing out leaflets and talking about what it sees as the cruelty of fishing. And that may not be all.
The campaign's leader, Tracy Reiman, has stated that in some places the anti-fishing effort may include rock skipping and boat rocking.
To deal with that threat, a few days ago the Virginia General Assembly passed an emergency amendment to a drunken-boating law that makes it unlawful ``in a willful and intentional manner to impede the lawful fishing for any species of fish or shellfish.''
Hunters and trappers already had protection. Legislation that was more protective of fishing was introduced in the regular General Assembly session, but failed to receive approval when it became bogged down in the property-rights issue.
The problem with the recent amendment is it applies to boat fishing only.
``It will give us some protection, but not all we want,'' said Ed Rhodes, conservation director of the Virginia B.A.S.S. Federation. ``We will be back [to the General Assembly] in January.''
One thing that must be disconcerting to Virginia anglers is that PETA is planning to relocate its headquarters from Rockville, Md., to downtown Norfolk in June.
``These folks - up to 90 strong, according to reports - will be around Hampton Roads 365 days - and nights - a year,'' said Bob Hutchinson, the outdoor writer for The Virginian-Pilot newspaper in Norfolk.
``When I first heard that an animal-rights organization was getting ready to target sport fishing, I almost laughed out loud,'' he said. ``All of a sudden, it wasn't so funny.''
At first glance, fishing appears to be an unlikely target, even for animal-rights zealots. More than 25 million Americans fish. Not long ago, the sport was honored by a Presidential executive order.
Most people consider fishing to be wholesome. It is ``A River Runs Through It.'' It is an Orvis store. It is a day when dad and the kids enjoy companionship in the outdoors. It is a trip with grandpa or uncle Jim. It is fond memories of days on the water with very special people. It is the promotion of conservation. It is a $50 billion shot in the arm for the nation's economy.
But fish have feelings and so do fishing worms, PETA says. A hook gives them real pain. Out of water, a fish slowly dies of suffocation. Fishermen need to find a more harmless pastime, PETA believes.
This is yet another case of applying human feelings and values toward animals, of putting animals on the same level as humans, even higher in some instances. The issue came up Thursday, under a slightly different format, during a meeting of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries on foxhound chasing regulations.
``I am here to represent the fox - Mr. and Mrs. Fox,'' said one animal-rights advocate. Foxes, she said, have families and they desire peace and tranquility.
Another speaker wasn't as gentle. He called the houndsmen ``recreational killers.'' He claimed hunters ``murder for pleasure.''
There isn't just a naive side to this movement, there is a mean side, too.
LENGTH: Medium: 78 linesby CNB