Weird Science
I received a
B.Sc. degree from Mount Allison University in Sackville, NB, back in 1968. I cherish that experience, especially working with
highly esteemed professors and brilliant students that I respected.
Today, more than 40
years later, I find myself in the company of scientists that I cannot respect. For example, I see DFO scientists refusing
to accept that salmon supplementation can work, despite successful projects all around us that prove otherwise. Generally,
I see scientists and bureaucrats who focus so narrowly that they ignore the big picture we call reality, a huge example being
the plight of our rural and aboriginal communities.
Why does this upset me? For the same reasons it should upset you –
decisions that are very important to us are based upon information and opinions provided by these scientists. An example is
the likelihood of no live-release salmon season on Nova Scotia’s St. Mary’s River in 2010, a product of DFO’s
obsession with salmon population size data. Instead of developing a recovery plan, our DFO scientists merely try to count
fish. They have been recommending a “wait and see” strategy, or lack of strategy, for the past fifteen years,
ever since DFO divested themselves of their salmon hatcheries. Doesn’t the magnificent Atlantic salmon deserve better?
Don’t aboriginal and sport fishers deserve better from our government?
David Suzuki
is a scientist that I respect. I don’t ever recall him saying that any problem was too big or that the best approach
is to do nothing. Instead, he presents us with clear problem definitions, realistic and practical solutions and encourages
us to make the difficult decisions that enable us to work together to solve our problems. The value of Dr. Suzuki’s
work has been recognized internationally and he’s been the recipient of many honorary degrees and awards, like Companion
to the Order of Canada. He’s never struck me as a self-serving man, an arrogant man, an academic snob, a jaded bureaucrat
or a know-it-all. He’s simply a man that I like and respect. To me, he’s a true scientist.
Our fly of the week is a wet salmon fly, the Garry (Yellow Dog or Minister’s Dog). Originated in the 1940s in Scotland,
the fly was apparently named after a golden retriever – the local minister’s dog. A few hairs from the dog’s
tail resulted in this pattern. The fly quickly became a local favourite and eventually quite popular elsewhere. The fly in
the photo was tied by award-winning Brookfield fly tyer Jim McCoul.
Garry
Hook:
Daiichi 2161 salmon hook, size 2 - 6
Thread:
White GSP 50 Denier thread
Tag:
Fine oval silver tinsel and yellow floss
Tail:
Golden pheasant crest
Rib
Oval silver tinsel
Body:
Black floss dyed yellow calftail over a smaller bunch of red calftail, or, if you happen to have a golden retriever
...
Hackle:
Silver Doctor Blue hen hackle, folded and wrapped as a collar
Head:
Black thread sealed with 2 coats Angler’s Corner Wet Head Cement
Please
stay on the line …
