BS: Lobster hairball.....cough up!

Subject: BS: Lobster hairball.....cough up!
From: Shanghaiceltic
Date: 18 Apr 05 - 08:11 PM

Now to get me Chinese lobster recipe book out.....


No more cow for lobsters

By Victoria Wallack

AUGUSTA (April 13): Some lobsters have developed hairballs after eating chunks of cowhide in traps used by fishermen.

It's an unsavory discovery that has prompted legislators to promote new regulations on alternative bait. Legislation approved Monday by the Marine Resources Committee also would allow the state to investigate reports of slaughterhouse waste being sold as bait.

Sen. Dennis Damon (D, Hancock), co-chairman of the committee, proposed the alternative bait legislation, which must be approved by the full Legislature.

"This is a sensitive topic because of the potential effect it might have on the market," Damon said. He estimated that catching and selling lobsters in Maine is a $750 million business.

Under Damon's proposal, it would be unlawful to use wild or domestic animal renderings or offal as bait to fish for lobsters or crabs, unless the bait were animal hide with its hair removed.

David Etnier, deputy commissioner of the Department of Marine Resources, said reports of hair in lobster meat surfaced about a year and a half ago and raised concerns, particularly in the Japanese market. He said his department's own survey showed that less than 5 percent of the traps in Maine waters, and probably closer to 3 percent, were using cowhide at any given time during the year.

While the animal hide did not appear to pose a health threat, Etnier said his department was concerned about the slaughterhouse waste because of reports that fishermen had gotten blood poisoning after handling the bait.

The outright prohibition on hairy hides and offal would go into effect Jan. 1, 2006, unless the bill is passed as an emergency measure with the required two-thirds vote. Then the DMR could use rulemaking before that date to ban bait it deemed a threat to public health. Such rulemaking would prompt a public hearing well before the ban went into effect –- a move pushed by committee member Rep. Jeff Kaelin (R, Winterport). Kaelin told Damon he agreed with the intent of his proposal, but wanted to give fishermen and others a chance to weigh in.

"I want to go to the same place," Kaelin said. "I had hoped we could have a more deliberative public process."

The problem with alternative bait was discussed at a public hearing last week, attended by lobstermen from up and down the coast.

Most spoke in favor of regulating the bait, but not banning cowhide outright because it is cheaper than herring or other fish used as bait and lasts longer in the traps –- an important consideration in the colder months when fishermen can't get out to bait their traps as often.

Getting rid of the hair, however, seemed a good idea to most.

"If you're opening up the lobster and you get this hairball, that would not go over well, said Bill Anderson of Trescott.

Phil Dziezyk of Swans Island questioned what chemicals were used to remove the hair and whether they would harm the species. "Two to three years down the road, are the females going to stop dropping their eggs?" he asked.

The slaughterhouse waste raised concerns not only about the lobster, but the fishermen using the bait.

"It's some pretty bad stuff," said John Carter of Hulls Cove, representing Zone B in the Bar Harbor and Ellsworth area. He described it as having hides from moose, deer and cows, feces, blood and hair in it. He also said there have been reports of fishermen getting blood poisoning as a result of sticking their hands in the bait bucket –- reports the DMR also have heard.

Clive Farrin of Boothbay Harbor, representing the Zone E Council, said he heard the bait described as "whatever comes off the slaughterhouse floor."

He said it was going for $20 a pail as compared to $100 to $120 a pail for good artificial bait. "People used to pay to get it hauled away," he said. Now it's being sold to fishermen.

Asked by one committee member why some would buy it, he said: "It's cheap. Believe it or not there are guys in this business who are looking for a bargain."

Damon said the issue of regulating alternative bait is overdue. He said that for over two years there have been concerns coming to him from the industry about alternative bait The cowhide is being used because it is durable and the lobsters were attracted to it. "But is it detrimental to the stock?"he asked.

For an industry that's worth $750 million to Maine, Damon said, bait is being used that has not been tested and is not being monitored.

Subject: RE: BS: Lobster hairball.....cough up!
From: Peace
Date: 18 Apr 05 - 08:13 PM

Where do you FIND this stuff?

Subject: RE: BS: Lobster hairball.....cough up!
From: open mike
Date: 18 Apr 05 - 09:41 PM

yum yum

Subject: RE: BS: Lobster hairball.....cough up!
From: Peace
Date: 18 Apr 05 - 09:44 PM

"Under Damon's proposal, it would be unlawful to use wild or domestic animal renderings or offal as bait to fish for lobsters or crabs, unless the bait was animal hide from which the hair has been removed."

CRABS TOO!

Subject: RE: BS: Lobster hairball.....cough up!
From: Shanghaiceltic
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 12:22 AM

My crabs are not feeding on offal! *Blush* and nor has the hair been removed and they don't seem to be coughing up hair balls.

Subject: RE: BS: Lobster hairball.....cough up!
From: Peace
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 12:25 AM

If I had known about this in the '60s, I coulda saved myself a WHOLE lotta grief.

Subject: RE: BS: Lobster hairball.....cough up!
From: bobad
Date: 11 Mar 06 - 08:00 AM

Lobster hairball mystery solved

Subject: RE: BS: Lobster hairball.....cough up!
From: kendall
Date: 11 Mar 06 - 08:21 AM

What a crock!

Subject: RE: BS: Lobster hairball.....cough up!
From: Rapparee
Date: 11 Mar 06 - 09:10 AM

Not only will it taste good, but it will tickle all the way down. Wait! Lobster down! Vests and sleeping bags filled with lobster down!

Subject: RE: BS: Lobster hairball.....cough up!
From: SINSULL
Date: 11 Mar 06 - 10:04 AM

Some pure lobster took the Barbie Doll clothes too seriously.
Kendall is that a crock of good Lobster Chowder or the hairy stuff?

Subject: RE: BS: Lobster hairball.....cough up!
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Mar 06 - 10:27 AM

Some people will swallow anything.

Subject: RE: BS: Lobster hairball.....cough up!
From: gnu
Date: 11 Mar 06 - 11:20 AM

But, offal is what makes them taste so good.

Subject: RE: BS: Lobster hairball.....cough up!
From: kendall
Date: 11 Mar 06 - 01:00 PM

I'm all for recycling, but there are limits.

Subject: RE: BS: Lobster hairball.....cough up!
From: Peace
Date: 11 Mar 06 - 04:42 PM

Easy for y'all to talk. Just try havin' 5,000 of those things all over ya.

Subject: RE: BS: Lobster hairball.....cough up!
From: bobad
Date: 11 Mar 06 - 05:38 PM

Some people would pay good money for that.

Subject: RE: BS: Lobster hairball.....cough up!
From: SINSULL
Date: 11 Mar 06 - 05:48 PM

Gives a whole new meaning to thread creep.

Subject: RE: BS: Lobster hairball.....cough up!
From: Peace
Date: 11 Mar 06 - 11:01 PM

Another new creature discovered in specially marked boxes of fudge.