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Mid-Hudson Vegetarian Society, Inc.
38 East Market Street, Rhinebeck, New York 12572 USA -
845-876-2626
Vegetarian - Vegan - Animal Rights - Health - Nutrition - Environment
The mission of the Mid-Hudson Vegetarian Society, Inc. is to promote the vegetarian ethic in the Mid-Hudson (New York) region, educate the community and aid anyone in the pursuit of a totally vegetarian (vegan) cruelty-free and healthful lifestyle.
Articles - Letters - and More
Letter to the Poughkeepsie Journal - 5 May 2003
To the Editor:
On Saturday May 5 you had a photo on the front page of the sports section of a broadly smiling young man holding the dead body of a striped bass. It took 35 minutes to reel in the fish, which caused it pain and suffering. Is this a kind and appropriate thing to teach a four year old to do? This was the age that this man, now 29, first began killing fish. He has now reached what you call "a personal best". He says he plans to have the fish stuffed. (The correct term is "mounted".) Was this a fair battle between equals? The bass had no idea she was in a contest – she reached for what she thought was food, having no way to know a hook was inside which connected to a strong line and reel that would ultimately bring her to her death. The only equality may have been their ages as, according to the New York Sea Grant Webpage, the life expectancy of a striped bass is "at least 30 years".
Yes, fishing is a popular activity and a big industry. As so many have done it for so long the cruelty is widely accepted and unquestioned. To mount her body and hang it on the wall to be admired and a source of pride says that causing death to a fellow creature is a good thing. If it were a cat or dog many would be outraged. Let us consider a world where we cherish all of life’s creatures.
Roberta Schiff
Rhinebeck NY
845.876.5598
We look forward to
hearing from you
