/LURK OFF Normally, I come to mudcat to lurk about and giggle into my latenight beer as I read good stuff from the folk music world. I feel that this is a subject I must say something about.

As a part of the seafood industry, this is a subject I am torn on. I think that anything a person can do to get people interested in eating more fish is a good thing. However, the fishermen that spent a good deal of time and effort to assure the high quality of their catch are being mocked by these "flying fish" at Pike Place Fish Market. Each time one of these fish gets thrown, it gets bruised, at best. At worst, the spine breaks, seeping blood and bitter fluid into the meat. This damage is not immediately evident, as the fish is whole, skin-on most of the time, but when the customer gets home and skins/fillets the fish, it is noticeable. At the risk of making this into a rant, I ask you this: when, if ever, has the local butcher heaved a beef tenderloin to a customer? When has a greengrocer casually slung a bag of tomatoes to a checkout clerk a good 20 feet distant? G_Smolt /LURK ON