Carpenters Brook Fish Hatchery Closing..... Get ready for More.

[Hollywood]

Unless we make a whole lot of noise and do it soon. They will use the same rationale to close EVERY hatchery if there is no noise from this one.

An e-mail I just received that makes many good points... I removed last names from this as I wasn't given an OK to include them.

Subject: Carpenters Brook Hatchery closing.


To Those of You That This Must Concern:

     I offer you all a few things to think about.  Some are historical and
some are future predictive.  However, they are all based upon fact and upon
education.
     Back about fifteen years ago this county experienced a marvelous
connection between Trout Unlimited (Iroquois Chapter) and the Carpenter's
Brook Fish Hatchery.  The result of a massive amount of volunteer effort
and
cooperation was over one thousand volunteer man hours with hundreds of
individuals.  These individuals were from the County Sportsman's
Federation,
Hunting Clubs, Trout Unlimited, Gun Clubs, High School groups of students
with teachers and, yes, even PITA.  The results of this work was the
establishment of a two year old fish raising and stocking program with
Carpenter's Brook, a unique to this state tagging protocol that established
trout movements after stocking, the use of clove oil as an anesthetic over
TS-222 (a  carcinogenic), a float stocking program for the hatchery fish,
and
raising trout in the classroom with distribution of them into creeks.  All
of
these projects received both county wide, state and national recognition.
The result of all of these protocols is some of the best fishing in the
United States.  This improved fishing has benefitted spin fisherman,
casters,
and fly fishermen alike.  There is no doubt at all that people travel from
all over this country to fish here in our Onondaga County streams.  I,
myself, have traveled here from Manchester, Tennessee, and have stayed for
a
month.  I know for a fact that Southern fishermen have been traveling up
here
for years.  I know for fact that out of county New York State ex-residents
travel here to fish.  I have in this one visit alone spent well over three
thousand dollars for fuel, lodging, food and other necessities.  I have
spoken to Wayne, the owner of the Trout Fitter, and Jake , who owns
the fly shop on Nine Mile Creek.  Their businesses are built on people
fishing in the county.  The benefits that accrue to county residents
through
this influx of capital are large.  However, let us not stop at this.  The
Hatchery gets thirty-three thousand visitors a year and conducts numerous
training and education programs.  You should all be able to see the impact
of
Carpenter's Brook as far-reaching and significant.  The Hatchery is a
benefit
to all sportsmen and women alike. You simply cannot, any of you, let this
Hatchery be killed off in the Mahoney budget.  If the hatchery goes, then
next it will be any programs associated with other sporting interests.
     I called your County Executive on the morning call-in radio program
and
asked her about the Hatchery's future.  She told me that your Hatchery was
a
duplication of service and that there were other priorities.  I invite you
all to listen to that radio program if you can.  I believe it was Joe
Galuski's, "Ask J. Mahoney" program.
    I spent some years taking courses in fish health, hatchery management,
fish biology and have even been Federally Certified in electro-shocking.
Education and communication have solidified my position.  I feel very
confident that if your County Executive thinks the state will take over the
stocking for Carpenter's Brook then she is unfortunately and sadly
mistaken.
It is a play upon words.  It is semantics.  Carpenter's Brook stocks about
76,000 fish.  Can you imagine where the state is going to find an
additional
76,000 fish to put into this county?  It is true that the state will stock
some trout.  That is where Ms. Mahoney is correct and only where she is
correct.  The real question is, "How many and of what size?"  Based upon
questions that I have asked, it appears that the state will fit this county
in with all others, and you will get about 2.3 fish per mile of stream.  No
one will have many fish at all.  Your children will not, nor will you.  The
numerous school groups tours and student activities will not be conducted.
This is really quite a travesty.  It is also significant that the state
stocked trout will not be two year olds.  That means that all the fisherman
who travel here, such as myself, who drop numerous dollars into the local
coffers will not visit to fish for one year olds.  Would you drive fifteen
hours to fish for fish that you can catch in your own tailwater?
     As I see it you all have to become informed consumers and not be led
astray by false presentations.  I believe that with no Hatchery you will
lose
two very good shops.  Ask the owners yourself.  I know that in times of
fiscal crisis belts have to be tightened.  I do not see this proposal as
being equitable at all.  Instead of working hard to take a few dollars from
a
large number of different pots, a lot of money is being taken from the
Hatchery pot by making the false claim that it is a duplication of service.
It is not.  Learn the facts.  Look at the numbers.  You must become well
informed and you must unite: hunters, fishermen, cyclists, all.  Use the
power of your vote.  There are thousands and thousands of sports folks in
this county.  Unite.  I was also told by Ms. Mahoney that she was concerned
about the health and safety of county residents.  Well, of course.  Isn't
that a Straw Man fallacy, though?  Is this a suggestion that if the
Hatchery
remains open then the safety of county residents will diminish?  Do you all
believe that?  There is better fishing here than in Montana and Idaho.  I
have been to both states and have done better here.  Now is the time for
all
good men and women to come to the aid of the Hatchery.  Stand fast,
brothers
and sisters.
     Sincerely,
     A sportsman, 
     Kevin

[SNAGGER]

 OK now that I have read this, what is going to be done to try to stop this! Over the course of 2 decades I've been to countless meetings with the DEC & other organizations on issues here on the Salmon River. It's hard to get any large group of fishermen to agree on anything! Lot's of ego's, special interests, social barriers involved! Nothing up here has ever really been accomplished, except what inevitably was going to happen anyway! I'm all in, like I always am for the working man! I don't fish these waters, but if it is an average Joe type waters with plenty of public fishing areas, not a private Elitist playground, then I'm for keeping the hatchery going! I'm really surprised that TU hasn't got something spearheaded Already! KEEP US ALL UPDATED & if someone creates an organization to try to stop this, let us know!

[Deadeyez]

Im in too! Let us all know. You would think with all the license increases in hunting and fishing this stuff wouldn't happen! Just another B.S. LIE from the government telling us the extra money we pay is going to this kinda stuff! Unreal! Thanks for the info.-Deadeyez

[prchslyr]

Wow that is shocking. I wonder what the health of the residents has to do with a hatchery. You would think fishing would promote good health. That is the only excercise I get. But it keeps me in really good shape. Especially trout fishing. Pounding stream banks can be a heck of a workout. Not to mention, when grilled, a trout is one of the best meals you can feed you and your family. Thinking the closing of a hatchery could benefit the health of that county's residents is absolutley obscene. Kudo's to the e-mailer for taking a stand.

[Hollywood]

Wow that is shocking. I wonder what the health of the residents has to do with a hatchery. You would think fishing would promote good health. That is the only excercise I get. But it keeps me in really good shape. Especially trout fishing. Pounding stream banks can be a heck of a workout. Not to mention, when grilled, a trout is one of the best meals you can feed you and your family. Thinking the closing of a hatchery could benefit the health of that county's residents is absolutley obscene. Kudo's to the e-mailer for taking a stand.

What they are trying to infer is that if they don't cut funding for the hatchery- they will not have money for some social program they do support and if you don't trust them to do whats best (with YOUR money) than someones "health" may suffer.  Oh, OK. Why didn't you just SAY so? I'm so selfish- of COURSE, just take all my money and do whatever will get you re-elected with it. The kids that fish Nine mile creek, Butternut creek, Limestone, Geddes brook, Carpenters brook and a bunch of other little waters aren't old enough to vote anyway, so $crew them. Hey- I Know! Can I pay you MORE taxes so the richest guy in this part of the state
doesen't have to pay ANY property tax for the next 30 years? For the 2nd time? Yeah, you know whats best for us alright.
 Nice concrete box by the way.

sorry for the rant.

[esox v]

 Kevin, The county executive said the the state would continue stock the fish as one year old fish not the larger two year old fish  the CB fish hatchery stock. I also believe she is a bit naive on the issue and even though she didn't directly answer the question. I was left with the feeling it would be closed.

   Prchslyr, You should spend a bit of time and actually look into how much the rich DO pay in taxes.With the recent tax increases the rich in this state pay more in taxes than in any other state in the country. Under 100,000 people in this state account for more than 50% of our tax revenue. When some choose to move to another state.... you and I... will make up the tax gap. You... me... and the rich guy pay way to much in taxes because our state govt is to Large,expensive,and wastefull.
   Last time I checked poor people create few jobs with the exception of government social programs.
   This class envy crap needs to stop!          

[Anchorman]

Trout and salmon are such high maintenance fish. I kinda wish they'd stock striped bass in Ontario.
Much heartier fish, and they don't die every 3-4 years.

[Jim P]

Typical government stupidity. I would bet for every dollar that they spend rearing and stocking fish 7 -10 dollars come back to the government coffers. This is the only angle that will prevail. You need to show the powers that be the numbers. Once they see they will get more money by keeping the hatchery open you have a chance to win. Honestly most of them are completely ignorant about the fishing/sporting economy.

[esox v]

Does anyone know if a privately funded hatchery can stock fish in state water.

[Anchorman]

I'd bet at the very least, you'd have to have some sort of certification verifying that the fish are all VHS free, amongst other diseases....... probably more red tape than it would be worth.
I used to know a guy that raised rainbow trout and sold them to a local restaurant as food. He's still got all his tanks and ladders piled in his barn.
Anchorman

[esox v]

Typical government stupidity. I would bet for every dollar that they spend rearing and stocking fish 7 -10 dollars come back to the government coffers.  

If they outlawed fishing and hunting I would save about 15k a year.

[esox v]

I remember there used to be a private association funded Atlantic Salmon Hatchery up near upper Fish Creek. Anyone know if it's still around?

[SNAGGER]

Trout and salmon are such high maintenance fish. I kinda wish they'd stock striped bass in Ontario.
Much heartier fish, and they don't die every 3-4 years.

  WHAT! The Great Lakes Pacific Salmon Program is one of the best, low maintentance And Successful hatchery programs in the world! They also naturally reproduce like cockroaches! Plenty of bass in the Hudson & the Sound! I still haven't heard of any solutions, just complaining!

[esox v]

 Will they be closing Otisco Lake Park with the hatchery? The 2009 budget for the CBFH is 559,004 and that includes the Otisco Lake Park.

[Hollywood]

Will they be closing Otisco Lake Park with the hatchery? The 2009 budget for the CBFH is 559,004 and that includes the Otisco Lake Park.

Good question.