Fish War Claims Upriver Victims

Bus stop gone Volunteer mourned Royal scare A Thornhill bus stop has been The death last week of Gert King of the Mountain racer ran take out because of noise and Grundmann leaves a big hole in into more than bargained for on vandalismkNEWS A9 the city\COMMUNITY B1 the weekend\SPORTS B6 93¢ PLUS 7¢ GST W VOL. 10 NO. 16 JUI i lN [ IARD Fish war claims upriver victims are gunning for sockeye, a large number the deparlment cannot allow that to hap- By DAVID TAYLOR been a dramatic downward slide in the The conunercial fishery is scheduled to ofcoho and steelhcad are still caught and pen if they want to protect the threatened THE INTERNATIONAL war for sal- fish that represent the bread and butter of continue until Aug. 4. But Janz says killed in their nets. coho and steelhead runs. mon in the commercial fishing industry the sportsfishing industry." return numbers are so low that the DFO "It's a double-edged sword," Janz Meanwhile, provincial biologist Bob has taken a huge toll on some of B.C.'s According to a federal test fishery, will likdy have to cut back some of the Skeena runs of summer steelhead, coho remaining commercial fishing days to notes. Hooton says there is still time for steel-~ most valu'ed sportsfish. head numbers to bounce back. Those involved in the sporlsfishing in- and Kalum chinook are at some of.their prevent any further damage to the runs. Steelhead Society vice president Bruce "It's a roulette game," he says. "But" dustry say thatwhile public attention has lowest levels in recorded history. And he says he's well aware of a Hill thinks the DFO's decision should be the early numbers aren't good. There's been focussed on ferry blockades and The steelhead return index is showing potential for backlash from commercial an easy one. He argues the reason why strong evidence to suggest the Alaskan political rhetoric, some of the province's the third-lowest return ever recorded fishers, who are still fuming over Alas- steelhesd and coho numbers have been fishery has been really tough on Skeena most threatened species have nearly dis- less than one ninth of the previous ten- kan overcatch of Skeena-bound sockeye. depleted so badly is because of poor fisheries management. steeihead." appeared. year average. "They're already warmed up," Janz If the returns continue at this rate, only notes. "This won't be an easy decision "They (DFO) say they will shut down Hooton also notes that overall catch Sportsfish advisory board chair Jim success rates by sports fishers on the Culp says fish and those who catch them 13,000 steelhead will probably make to make." in August, but that's too late," Hill says. "We're getting really frustrated with Skeena have been quite poor this year. for recreation aren't represented in a war their way upstream. That's far below the This year was especially bad for the them and if they don't do better we'll see A survey he did last week of 38 anglers that has focussed almost entirely on estimated 25,000-34,000 fish needed to salmon because the Alaskan fleet inter- them in court. If they can't take care of downstream from Terrace turned up just Premier Glen Clark and the commercial replenish the stocks. cepted massive numbers of Skeena- "It's tern'hie," says DFO biologist Los bound sockeye (steelhead as well since the fish, maybe the courts can." five catches --all chinook. fleet Hill agrees the DFO will be under "There's a lot of disaptminted people "Thevalue of sportsfishing in this pro- Janz. "You can only hope the runs are the fish travel together) off the southeast vince is greater than the entire commer- coming in late for so long before you coast of the state. pressure from the commercial fleet to outthere," he says. cial Rshery," he says. "And there has push the panic button." And while Canadian commercial boats give them more fishing time, but he says Many groups form 4 v MIJ- recall coalition A COALITION of diverse people and I groups is coming together here with one Put up your dukes, says purpose -- ousting Sk~na NDP MLA Hel- MLA. For that, see Page A2. rout Giesbrecht from office. The coalition hopes, to gather enough signatures to force a by-election')for Giea- to be a local organization ht place, We see brecht's seat. our role as a support where there is the Those close to the recall movement say potential for success," he said. gathering the signatures will require a lot of Skeena is also attractive because people organization but says it's poss~le. here are less mobile than in urban settings, The .coalition already includes the Cana- Lanigsn added. That's important because dian Taxpayers Federation, a business organizers have to sign up at least 40 per lobby group which focuses on govermnent cent of the number of people who were on spending, the local chapter of Active the voters list in the 1996 election. Citizens of B.C., formed to combat what it And those that sign up must be still be on says is increasing state control of education, a valid voters list someplace in the pro- key local members of the Reform Party of vince. Based on the nearly 19,000 people B.C. and those affected by the Skeena Cel- on the 1996 list, organizers will need just lulose financial crisis. under 7,600 signatures. If there is a common thread connecting "I think army is the right word to use. the groups, it's the opinion that the provin- It'll need a lot of discipline," said Lanigan.i cial government is neither democratic nor A taste of what that army might look like representative of the voters nor honest. came July 16 when 130 people signed up to The taxpayers federation keys on Premier work on a recall campaign. Glen Clark saying there was a balanced That took place at an Active Citizens of budget before the 1996 provincial election B.C. rally at the arena featuring Kari Simp- /::/:iii!~):i( ~ ~ and then stating it was in deficit after the son who spoke against the teaching in pub- vote. i lic schools of tolerance toward "We know from the documents released homosexuality. under Ereedom of information that they More than 500 people turned up and that knew there was a deficit," said federation kind of orgnnlzational ability on the part of • •S• ~ •, ,• : ~ .•• executive director Troy Lanigan. Active Citizens of B.C. will be needed for a ~/~:~ : • i! ~¸~!•!i'~ Key people involved say each group will successful recall campaign. bring its own expertise in raising money or But l~like Rosenau, the pastor of the Full: in organizing people to the coalition. Gospel Christian Fellowship church here Giesbrecl3t's Skeena riding has been and a representative for Active Citizens, targeted because of the interest shown here, said other commitments prevent him from '1 said Lanigan. "First and forerit0st there has taking a direct, key leadership role in recall. Merge vote this fall RESIDENTS OF Terrace "Historically I'd say the r and Thornhlll go to the polls odds are against it," he Oct. 18 to answer one ques- says. "But things change. tion: do you favour the People will have to make up amal~;amation of the two their own minds." coy~ununities? Watmough himself "It's simple and it's doesn't like a deal negotia- VETERINARIAN Heather Matheson cuddles a lO-week-old black bear named Toni. direct," Thornhill regional ted with the province be- district director Les Wat- cause means Terrace resi- mough says of the question dents will get a small tax on the ballet. "Why confuse break and Thomhill resi- ..Toni finds new l ome • the issue?" dents will see their taxes go As soon as she smells the fresh air Toni perks up Last week the local up m especially businesses. BARELY STANDING ON wobbly legs, Toni, a 10- restructure committee "Some of the tax numbers week old black bear, tries to bite off the blue bandage trying to wander around until she gets distracted by the band aid on her leg. recommended the municipal are a bit funny," he says. on her front leg. affairs ministry hold the To help lessen the impad She was brought into the Skeena Animal Hospital But by the time Toni left on Friday morning, she was doing much better, and eating well. Staff was feeding referendum. of the taxes, the committee last week after she was found on the side of the high- Two separate votes will be has recommended a five- way between Prince Rupert and Terrace. her a diluted milk replacement for puppies. held m one in Terrace, the year tax phase-in plan for "She was pretty non-responsive when she came in," Tonl's vet bill was paid for by the vet clinic. The Los Watmough clinic treats injured wildlife at no charge. other in Thornhill and the ThornhiH businesses and said vet Heather Matheson. "She gas very thin and affected rural areas. A ma- the other two will be elected property owners on Braun's seemed malnourished." Matheson thought it was likely Toni is now at a rehab shelter for wildlife in Smithers, called the Northern Lights Animal Shelter. jority vote must carry in by Thornhili residents. Island. It also wants a gnat- the bear cub's mother had died. both areas for the "Thomhili will have to antee that the approximately "We got an IV and some fluids in her right away," It's run by trained animal keepers Angelika and Peter Langen.

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