bilge into our fisheries where it settles in shallow areas of remnant vegetation where spawning takes place. Over the course of a Musky season, reports abound regarding Musky found belly up because of improper release by inexperienced or uncaring anglers. Many of us have seen this firsthand and may even be responsible for it. None of this can be placed at the doorstep of the Native Peoples. It has recently come to light that, during the late season, some "Professional" Musky anglers are using illegal and/or questionable fishing techniques using single hook rigs on suckers just to bolster their yearly numbers. Apparently, this is being done without regard for the impact upon the health of the Musky or the Musky fishery. It is true that, from time to time, bitter Native harvesters have violated their spiritual heritage by exploiting a spearing harvest. They are no more correct in that action than the non-native peoples that have been exploiting and continue to exploit the fisheries. There may be some folks out there, Native and non-native, who find it impossible to put their petty prejudices aside and work for the common good of the fishery resource. That is in deed truly sad, for it serves no useful purpose to engage in hysterical tirades of bigotry. There is nothing more ugly than the specter of drunken foul mouthed self righteous individuals ignorantly berating other people to feed an agenda of prejudice.
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