I went to a meeting yesterday about....

[kippy]

Not to get too far off subject Flap, but what are the horseshoe crabs poached? I didnt think you could eat them. Last time i was there it looked like a horseshoe crab graveyard from all the birds eating them.

[NIB]

well u can take all the horseshoe crabs cormarants,an seals an feed em to some great white's wouldn't bother me.On night i was into fish pretty good an the hsc where humpin my bootfoot like pam anderson in prison.I couldn't take it any more an had to split.

[capesams]

they are collected for their blood...research, etc..then 99 percent are released back into the water[alive]...some are taken for bait for traps.

[mooncusser]

Gotcha. Sorry for the misunderstanding. I'd just hate to see recreational fishermen get fractured more than they are already, especially with groups like PETA working harder than ever to destroy our sport.

[Flaptail]

Capesams, the clamming is not permitted on dry land but the flats being dry only at low water are ok ( besides that being the only place clams can survive). And the attitude to guiding is that the National Seashore does not permit it because they are on federal land ( which would actually include Nauset Beach) Monomoy is a federal wildlife refuge not a park ( the National Seashore is considered a park) All activities on Monomoy that are to be permitted must be wildlife dependent. Fishing is wildlife dependent so you can actually guide there. There is talk of requiring a permit to do so as part of regulating the use of the refuge but they ( the USFWS doesn't think it will fly). You must remember that the term "harrassment" is pretty broad though. And that is their utmost concern, to allow as much use as possible without harrassing the animals, like seals and tern nests etc. Ideas such as corridors and marked specific paths to get from one side of the island to the other. The USFWS wants the ferry services to be there. They actually need to have the island accessible to all by thier mission statement and regulations. If there is no way other than private boat that excludes the general public that is interested in going there from going there and by law they have to be accessible for all. Moneys gathered from the visitors center gift shop and tours they arrange help keep the staff numbers up. So that being the case they issued three permits for the service, Ripryder, Outermost Marina and Stage Harbor Marine ( which does not currently use the permit though they have it). A lot of of what I thought I knew was cleared up at the meeting and the same chance will be available to all at the Chatham High School Cafeteria on the 6th at 7pm. I want to be able to fish there at night at South Island at Monomoy Point ( especially the southwest side)

[Iwannakeeper]

Was there any talk about the seal 'problem'? Or are the seals considered a problem in this audience?

-IWK

[Flaptail]

The seals were mentioned. The seal problem itself I believe is under a different jurisdiction in the USFWS. The USFWS is made up of all kinds of different departments. They all get to chime in though once the CCP is sent to DC for final approval. See the April issue of OTW for an article on the seals at Monomoy by Catherine Cramer. I found while reading it that the USFWS Biologists are iehter in the dark as to what to really do and/or they do not want to face the fact that the successful ( comeback of the grey seal is beyond thier expectations and planning and they wnat to avoid publicly, at this time, declaring the evergrowing population ( 3 to 5 thousand greys alone) of seals are actually affecting the other resident fish populations such as Sand eel, flounders of varying types, scup, seabass, tautog, inshore winter cod and yes the Mighty Striped Bass and Bluefish in a negative way. I think they know this but don't know what to do.

[piemma]

CapeSam is correct. here's the full answer as to what they do with the Horse Shoe Crab blood:

The medical profession uses an extract from the horseshoe crab's blue, copper-based blood called lysate to test the purity of medicines. Certain properties of the shell have also been used to speed blood clotting and to make absorbable sutures.

[redlite]

They are federally protected. Guy I know down the Cape we call "Stinky Jim" is one of the few people that have federal licenses to do it. Being purely judgemental based upon physical possesions and appearence, I'd have to say that it is a less than lucrative industry.

There's a place in Wareham we visit that is infested with them. They love gettin it on with feet, and ankles, and knees. Tough wadin when you're trippin over the buggers.

Would be nice to fish from shore around Monomoy, provided they got rid of the rats of the ocean.(seals)

[Bronko]

[QUOTE=redlite]They are federally protected. Guy I know down the Cape we call "Stinky Jim" is one of the few people that have federal licenses to do it. Being purely judgemental based upon physical possesions and appearence, I'd have to say that it is a less than lucrative industry.

That was good stuff Redlite. I was laughing out loud at my desk.

[Edge Sportfish]

Used for bait (HSC) for whelk (scungili) traps. Flap, i'm looking forward to fishing with you this Summer...I remember when you could Duck hunt on Monomoy, will that ever happen again???

[Flaptail]

Only from a moored boat, not in a blind on dry land unfortunately.

[bassmaster]

Originally Posted by kippy

Not to get too far off subject Flap, but what are the horseshoe crabs poached? I didnt think you could eat them. Last time i was there it looked like a horseshoe crab graveyard from all the birds eating them.

eel bait for traps also