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1) needs to be based on scientific facts  by Anonymous Citizen on June 27, 2006 
No one doubts that a small percentage of birds do find a way to ingest toxic substances, but most experts agree that no increase or decrease in the loon or raptor population will happen by eliminating lead. Getting the lead out of fishing tackle needs to be based on scientific facts and definable outcomes, not fear and misplaced hysteria.



The fact is that only a few loons since 1976 have clearly been identified as having suffered lead toxicosis. Absent from studies often quoted by the people supporting this is the comprehensive 1999 study requested by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and conducted by the National Wildlife Health Research Center in Madison, Wisconsin. In this under-reported study, liver, blood, stomach, and radiograph samples were taken from 2,749 individual birds of 30 species. In addition, necropsy records of 36,671 waterbirds and bald eagles from the files of the National Wildlife Health Center from the years 1975 through 1999 were examined. The results showed that only 3.5 percent of common loons (from a sample of 313) had ingested lead sinkers and just 27 of 36,671 waterbird and bald eagle carcasses (0.007 percent) contained ingested lead sinkers.


So, what happens to fishing tackle lost while angling? In our nonacidic, soft bottomed lakes, most objects such as lead sinkers are permanently buried within days. Lead in fishing tackle is not the same as lead in gasoline or paint. It is not airborne or accessible to children for ingestion. Workers making fishing lures are closely tested for lead levels and no reports of hazardous effects exist.

they need to find something else to spend there time on beside this issue
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2) One of your better ideas, Kolb  by Anonymous Citizen on May 27, 2006 
!
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3) Good Luck Chris Kolb--this is one bill that makes sense  by Anonymous Citizen on April 28, 2006 
Thank you
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