veronicae (was [Killietalk] RE: Killies in the classroom)

[Wright Huntley <whuntley at verizon_net>]

Chris,

Chris <cgraseck at optonline_net> wrote:

> In response to Ralph Tran's interesting post on the use of *Cyprinodon
> veronicae* in the classroom I'm wondering if it is legal to maintain
> this fish in the United States.  Am I mistaken in thinking that in the
> United States, we are not permitted to keep any of the desert pupfish?

I'm not the real authority on this, but my understanding is that our 
moronic congressfools passed a law that prohibits keeping alive any 
species declared threatened, endangered or extinct by the country of 
origin. Basically they are telling us we must kill and bury them, at 
once, or face very stiff (if never enforced) penalties!

> I understand that *C. veronicae* no longer exists at Charco Azul, since
> that spring fed pool dried up in 96, but does this change anything as
> far as the legality of keeping this fish goes?  

It does if Mexico has declared them extinct (threatened or endangered). 
I believe they have, but I could be wrong on that.


> I'm not trying to argue
> the logic just wondering what the law says.  

I'm delighted at that. Defending the logic is quite impossible for 
normal folks. Understanding our environmental laws requires a suspension 
of belief and intelligence, at times. You need that noticeable 25%-50% 
drop in IQ that seems to come with putting a baseball cap on backwards. :-)

Wright

PS. There have never been any killifish on the CITES list, thanks to the 
good efforts of the late Al Castro. He convinced the bureaucrats that 
there was no commercial market for them, therefore no need for listing!

--
Wright Huntley - Rt. 001 Box K36, Bishop CA 93514 - whuntley at verizon_net
                    760 872-3995

        "WAR, n.  A by-product of the arts of peace."
                   Ambrose Bierce, _The Devil's Dictionary_




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