Our Elected Representatives Protecting You!

[m.and.m]

In order to give this august body, fodder and food for thought, I give you the Honorable Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and what worries her most these days:

Please note the typo in the very first line. The a and the r are reversed after the word stop.


Emergency steps needed to stop carp
By Debbie Stabenow and Rep. Dave Camp
This article appeared on February 4, 2010 in the Detroit Free Press

Right now, the vitally important ecosystem of the Great Lakes faces a dire threat from Asian carp. This invasive species threatens our $7.5-billion fishing industry and puts 800,000 jobs at risk.

This invasive species has migrated toward Michigan from the Mississippi Delta faster than anyone anticipated. Asian carp DNA has been found in the Calumet Harbor in Illinois -- a truly frightening discovery. Because they are so aggressive toward other fish and reproduce so rapidly, their imminent entry into the Great Lakes is one of the biggest economic and ecological threats our region has ever faced.

That's why we introduced the CARP ACT (HR4472 and S2946), intended to stop immediately the migration of carp and create a permanent barrier between this fish and our Great Lakes.

The CARP ACT (Close All Routes and Prevent Asian Carp Today) would achieve similar results to those sought in the motion filed before the U.S. Supreme Court by Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox. That case asked for a preliminary injunction to close the Chicago and O'Brien Locks -- just 25 miles from Lake Michigan -- where Asian carp DNA has been found.

The Supreme Court ruled against the injunction, but the risk of Asian carp to Great Lakes waters is serious. We cannot wait to take action. Already, the Michigan delegation secured $13 million for emergency barriers and safety measures. Now, we have introduced the CARP ACT to:

• Immediately close certain Chicago-area locks. These locks would remain closed only temporarily, until a controlled locks operations strategy is developed that will ensure Asian carp are kept out of the Great Lakes.

• Immediately install barriers to prevent carp from getting into Lake Michigan through migration or during a flood.

• Enhance existing barriers and monitoring systems and grant authority to the Army Corps of Engineers to acquire the real estate they need for the construction, operation and maintenance of the barrier system. This includes giving the Corps authority to eliminate and prevent the spread of Asian carp through the use of fish toxicant, commercial fishing and netting, harvesting and other means.

We want to be clear: We are not trying to hurt the commerce or flood-control abilities of any region. Our bill explicitly acknowledges the impact on commerce and flood control for the City of Chicago and calls for two studies: one to develop a strategy to mitigate the effects of this bill on existing commerce, and one to abate the effects on flood control. This is a commonsense approach that protects the Great Lakes without unduly hurting the Chicago area.

The Great Lakes are a source of natural beauty, an invaluable ecosystem, and a source of pride for the states and citizens that surround them. In the face of this threat, we will continue to work together to pass the CARP ACT, to halt immediately the menace that is Asian carp.

Personally, I think they should budget 800,000,000 dollars for a blue ribbon panel to study and produce a cookbook with all available carp recipes and place on retainer, 5 star chefs to produce more. This wil most likely solve the carp problem and save the Great Lakes.

Max

[m.and.m]

I just thought of something, I hope Uncle Sugar, doesn't have any Agent Orange laying around in some warehouse, they'll probably spray it on the Great Lakes to kill the Crap er. Carp.....

Max

[ExIntrepid]

I just thought of something, I hope Uncle Sugar, doesn't have any Agent Orange laying around in some warehouse, they'll probably spray it on the Great Lakes to kill the Crap er. Carp.....

You are a bad person, Max.

(Grin!)

—ExIntrepid

[samplesjr]

Hey All,
Been out of touch for awhile but this caught my eye. Having grown up and lived in Michigan for 60 years, there shouldn't be a problem with AO in the Great Lakes. Dow Chemical is located in Michigan and they have been using the waters and Great Lakes of Michigan as dumping grounds for waste, for years with no contamination. We all know that AO will not migrate into the waterways so there is would be no purpose in spraying the Great Lakes to rid them of carp or crap , whichever may be correct. Just an observation.
God Bless,
Larry

[johnr]

In order to give this august body, fodder and food for thought, I give you the Honorable Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and what worries her most these days:

Please note the typo in the very first line. The a and the r are reversed after the word stop.


Emergency steps needed to stop carp
By Debbie Stabenow and Rep. Dave Camp
This article appeared on February 4, 2010 in the Detroit Free Press

Right now, the vitally important ecosystem of the Great Lakes faces a dire threat from Asian carp. This invasive species threatens our $7.5-billion fishing industry and puts 800,000 jobs at risk.

This invasive species has migrated toward Michigan from the Mississippi Delta faster than anyone anticipated. Asian carp DNA has been found in the Calumet Harbor in Illinois -- a truly frightening discovery. Because they are so aggressive toward other fish and reproduce so rapidly, their imminent entry into the Great Lakes is one of the biggest economic and ecological threats our region has ever faced.

That's why we introduced the CARP ACT (HR4472 and S2946), intended to stop immediately the migration of carp and create a permanent barrier between this fish and our Great Lakes.

The CARP ACT (Close All Routes and Prevent Asian Carp Today) would achieve similar results to those sought in the motion filed before the U.S. Supreme Court by Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox. That case asked for a preliminary injunction to close the Chicago and O'Brien Locks -- just 25 miles from Lake Michigan -- where Asian carp DNA has been found.

The Supreme Court ruled against the injunction, but the risk of Asian carp to Great Lakes waters is serious. We cannot wait to take action. Already, the Michigan delegation secured $13 million for emergency barriers and safety measures. Now, we have introduced the CARP ACT to:

• Immediately close certain Chicago-area locks. These locks would remain closed only temporarily, until a controlled locks operations strategy is developed that will ensure Asian carp are kept out of the Great Lakes.

• Immediately install barriers to prevent carp from getting into Lake Michigan through migration or during a flood.

• Enhance existing barriers and monitoring systems and grant authority to the Army Corps of Engineers to acquire the real estate they need for the construction, operation and maintenance of the barrier system. This includes giving the Corps authority to eliminate and prevent the spread of Asian carp through the use of fish toxicant, commercial fishing and netting, harvesting and other means.

We want to be clear: We are not trying to hurt the commerce or flood-control abilities of any region. Our bill explicitly acknowledges the impact on commerce and flood control for the City of Chicago and calls for two studies: one to develop a strategy to mitigate the effects of this bill on existing commerce, and one to abate the effects on flood control. This is a commonsense approach that protects the Great Lakes without unduly hurting the Chicago area.

The Great Lakes are a source of natural beauty, an invaluable ecosystem, and a source of pride for the states and citizens that surround them. In the face of this threat, we will continue to work together to pass the CARP ACT, to halt immediately the menace that is Asian carp.

Personally, I think they should budget 800,000,000 dollars for a blue ribbon panel to study and produce a cookbook with all available carp recipes and place on retainer, 5 star chefs to produce more. This wil most likely solve the carp problem and save the Great Lakes.

Max

Hey, Wait. Isn't this racial profiling? And I would have thought we dumped enough 'toxicant' on the Asians already. They'll just start another lawsuit.

-JR

[m.and.m]

We sure did, but you know the government, they always buy way more than they need. Especially just before the new fiscal year starts on 1 October...

You remember use it or lose it....I always bought 500,000 or so black government pens, 900 cases of greenbar computer paper, etc.

So I wouldnt be surprised if a few thousand drums of AO exists somewhere, if not still in a 10,000 acre government warehouse somewhere, on a shelf with the wrong stock number label.

The probably want to hang on to it, in case, we have another war somewhere that has jungles.

Hey, if this is a new problem, then everyone should eat Asian carp. They are probably the safest fish in the lakes and have very low mercury levels..because they haven't been there as long.

Bring on the CARP....

In fact, problem solved....for a lot less money than the congress will spend on an architectural barrier which will work as well as the wall on the Southern border. They turned it on and the damn thing didn't work....GO Figure!

See, the people of Illinois have already started working on it....Plus if you get half a dozen Cajuns up here, the government will have to put Asian Carp on the endangered species list.



Max

Fried Asian Carp

2 pounds of scored fillets
Salt
Fresh ground pepper
Deep fryer with oil heated to 375° F to 400° F
Commercial frying coating (dry)

Smaller 1- to 5-pound fish have fine bones that readily dissolve when exposed to hot oil. Do not use large fish as they have much thicker bones that do not break down as easily. Most fish markets will sell the fish prescored for your convenience. Use light coatings, and avoid heavy batters that smother the scoring and which may leave the bones intact.

Salt and pepper the fillets, and let them rest in the refrigerator for an hour. Dredge the fillets in the commercial frying coating, and place in hot oil. Remove when golden brown, and serve with lemon wedges as a finger food or as a fish sandwich.

Smoked Asian Carp (Savory)

5 pounds bighead or silver carp steaks or fillets (skin on)
1cup coarse kosher salt
1 cup sugar
1 tbsp. fresh ground pepper
1 bunch fresh baby dill


Smoked Asian Carp (Sweet)

5 pounds bighead or silver carp steaks or fillets (skin on)
1cup coarse kosher salt 1 tbsp. fresh ground pepper
1 cup brown sugar
4 cups apple juice
2 sticks cinnamon

Smoker: charcoal and smoking chips (hickory, cherry or apple wood chips)

Smoking is a good way to prepare larger 5- to 30-pound fish. The light, oily texture of the meat readily absorbs the smoke flavor. The smoking process also loosens the bones and allows for easy extraction after cooking. Taste testers found both versions of the carp to be comparable to smoked whitefish or salmon.

Savory: Line up fillets/steaks on non-reactive pan or tray. Coat both sides with salt, pepper and dill. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Sweet: Place fillets/steaks in non-reactive bowl. Add remaining ingredients: salt, pepper, brown sugar, apple juice and cinnamon. Mix lightly until sugar and salt dissolve. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Soak wood chips in water one hour before smoking. Fire up charcoal until covered with a light ash. Fill water pan to create steam in smoker and keep fish from drying out.

10 OutdoorIllinois


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Remove fish from marinade. Place on wire racks in the refrigerator for one hour. Be sure to put a pan under the rack to catch drippings. The fish will develop a slight glaze. Lightly oil grill and position marinated fish on the rack. Add a handful of smoking chips to charcoal and close cooker. Replenish chips every 20-30 minutes. Most fish will be cooked in two to four hours, but this will vary with weather conditions and desired depth of smokiness. Finished fillets will have golden honey to mahogany color, depending on preference and type of wood chips used. Cooked fish will flake easily and will become opaque.

Allow fish to cool, and serve "as is" or use in recipes that traditionally call for smoked salmon.

Poached Silver Salad Sandwich

2 pounds bighead or silver carp fillets (skin off)
1 lemon
Fresh ground pepper
Salt
Fresh baby dill

Sandwich Stuff
Mayonnaise
Fresh ground pepper
Celery, chopped
Red and yellow pepper slices
Cucumber slices
Lettuce
Tomato slices
Dill pickle
Cheese slices (optional)
Fresh bagel or favorite sandwich bread

Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon on the fillets. Salt and pepper fillets to taste. Coarsely chop a small bunch of dill, and sprinkle it on the fillets. Steam in an open foil packet until fillets become opaque and flake easily with a fork. Allow fish to cool and remove meat with a fork, separating from the bones.

Mix flaked fish with mayonnaise, ground pepper, celery and red and yellow pepper slices to taste. Chill salad in refrigerator. Serve salad on bread with side ingredients: cucumber slices, lettuce, tomato, pickle and cheese.

Now all we have to do, is have the government give a tax credit if you eat Asian Carp...

Max