Me:

>> With a straight face, "would you like regular or unleaded, sir?".

Jon:

>Well, Don -

>The waterfowl hunters would note that you'll have to take them
>UN-leaded. Lead shot has been proscribed from the duck/goose hunters'
>tools for a number of years, and the current requirement is that steel
>shot be used in its stead.

Yeah, I know, but there's no humor in that, though, is there?

I do remember the fight very well. Steel yourself, though, to
the reality that Oregon lead the fight to shoot down steel shot.

(That's not bad, if I do say so myself, and it's even true!)

I forget when, ten years ago? fifteen?, but USF&W wanted to ban the
use of lead shot throughout the Pacific flyway and ODF&W, in one
of its less stellar (NOT Steller) performances claimed that there
was no scientific documentation to support the ban.

Later, the ban came into effect not because of poisoning of
waterfowl (which had been studied for, what, two or three
decades starting somewhere in like Michigan or Minnesota?), but
because of secondary poisoning of Bald Eagles. ESA rides again!

At least, that's my understanding. Thump me if I'm wrong.

Fortunately, as you indirectly point out by stating that only
areas with hardpan underlying a body of water, each seaon's
lead gets fairly well covered by silt and thus does not get
ingested by the little ducky-poos. Still, there's an friggin'
amazin' volume of lead down there.

Hey, I just realized I know the four-letter code for sora (SORA)!


- Don Baccus, Portland OR <donb at rational.com>