Surely, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) is aware of the recent Dalhousie University study from Halifax that claims more than 90 per cent of large, open-sea game fish species have been wiped out.

Or of the ever- dwindling numbers of Atlantic salmon returning to spawn on the East Coast, and cod stocks there as well. Or the growing number of lakes in Alberta where moratoriums on sports fishing have been imposed because there is nary a fish left to be caught.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist -- or a fish biologist for that matter -- to figure out what happened to these fisheries. Man, through ingenuity, industry and greed, has proven extremely efficient at decimating fish stocks the world over.

Needless to say, we were not impressed when DFO habitat co-ordinator Julie Dahl brushed aside concerns over the return of Arctic grayling to Baker Creek, saying it would not receive any "special attention."

These fish, their spawning grounds destroyed by pollution from nearby Giant Mine decades ago, showed up out of the blue a few years ago and started anew their age-old spawning run.

Not only were they coming back, many people have observed that these grayling were of the trophy-class variety -- the kind tourists pay big bucks to capture on the open water of Great Slave Lake. Undoubtedly, that's exactly where these fish are most of the year when not in the creek.

There is nowhere else near Yellowknife where anglers can catch grayling by the side of the road. This is virtually impossible anywhere else aside from a couple weeks during May at Baker Creek.

And judging by the number of vehicles and people that were lined up along the creek this month the word is definitely out.

When a fish is taken at spawn not only is there one less fish to do so but any chance of it reproducing is eliminated as well.

History shows us it's only a matter of time before this remarkable spawning run will run into trouble.

DFO knows this, because when confronted with over-fishing at Providence and Mosquito Creeks they did the right thing and closed them to fishing during the spawn.

DFO has a chance here to take the lead, consult with anglers, First Nations and environment groups, and figure out a way to protect Baker Creek's grayling run for future generations -- even if it means imposing a spring moratorium.

Otherwise, the pleasant surprise of their return will wind up as just another sad legacy to our tendency towards destruction over conservation.

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News

There are times we hear news from outside the North and don't realize how quickly it's going to impact us.

Sometimes the event is so extreme, such as 9-11, we know almost instantly we're going to feel the aftershock and be impacted for a long time to come.

Other times, the reality of the situation can take longer to materialize.

Such was the case this past week when it was announced a cow in Alberta had been stricken with mad cow's disease.

Those involved with Nunavut's fur industry know how quickly, and to what extent, the U.S.A. can react to what it perceives as a negative or dangerous situation.

Almost immediately after the news broke, the Americans were turning back all meat products that come from cud-chewing animals -- and that includes caribou.

There were reports of as many as 300 transport trucks loaded with beef products being turned back from the U.S. A. border on May 21.

And, the Kivalliq wasn't spared from the move.

Kivalliq Arctic Foods Ltd. manager Brian Schindel had a U.S.A.-bound shipment of caribou meat valued at about $34,000 stopped before it reached the border.

The Rankin Inlet-based company, supplied by the annual Southampton caribou harvest, has a number of shipments scheduled for the U.S.A. during the next few months.

Hopefully, the investigation into the life of the affected cow will conclude swiftly, with positive results.

The last thing the Kivalliq needs is to have its fragile economy undermined.

However, that being said, you can't blame the Americans for their diligence on this issue.

An outbreak of mad cow disease can devastate a country's livestock.

The images of animal destruction are still fresh in most people's minds concerning the outbreak that severely crippled England's beef exports.

While the odds of Kivalliq caribou being affected by this disease are remote at best, better to err on the side of caution than to gamble with the disease.

In fact, this scenario could actually play out to the Kivalliq region's advantage.

The news of tainted beef strikes terror into the hearts and minds of people almost immediately.

And, even if this one cow turns out to be an isolated incident, there's no doubt a good percentage of the population will be stricken with beef paranoia.

So, fellow Canadians, why not try a little pristine Arctic caribou while refraining from that porterhouse steak?

Editorial Comment
Terry Halifax
Inuvik Drum

I was in Paulatuk last week when a gentleman approached with a beautiful pair of beaver mitts for sale, but I didn't have the cash on me, so he burned me down to the bank machine on the back of his four-wheeler.

After a couple of tries, the machine refused to yield to my request for $200. A little red-faced, I told Mr. Krengnektak I couldn't make the purchase, but he generously gave me the mitts on faith that I'd send him a cheque on my return to Inuvik.

Back in Inuvik, I went to my branch to find out what the problem was. They told me that since my cheque was deposited in Yellowknife, by my company on their Royal Bank account, a hold was placed on the cheque.

This was on the 22nd; my pay was deposited on the 15th. The bank employees explained the hold was placed at the Yellowknife CIBC's discretion.

That's what led to this week's story on deposit holds. It got me thinking about the millions that the banks must have "on hold" each and every day, sucking the interest from customers' paycheques.

This is my first time dealing with the CIBC and the first time I've ever had a paycheque held.

I can't say that my credit history is perfect and I don't mean to brag, but I've paid off three car loans, paid eight years on a mortgage (without missing a payment) and I've held a TD Visa card for 20 years.

I hold a few thousand in RRSPs at the Bank of Montreal that have been losing an average of about nine per cent per year and I have a steady job (too steady sometimes).

The company I work for has a million dollar payroll with sales and assets far exceeding that and they have never bounced one of my pay cheques.

So why hold my paycheque? It's the bank's discretion.

As far as I know, they have been holding my pay since I opened the account a year-and-a-half ago.

I only noticed now, because I was short when payday rolled around.

After throwing a tantrum in the bank, the manager called and assured that my problem has been rectified, but how many others are getting the same treatment?

It's bad enough we pay service charges for doing everything but breathing in a bank. Should they be drawing interest on our paycheques too?

I think not, and I plan to look further into this. I'm curious just how much is held and how much they make off holding back these funds.

In the meantime, Mr. Krengnektak, thank you your trust and for the beautiful mitts.

I'll think of Mona every time I wear them. Your cheque is in the mail, I just hope they don't hold it too long.

Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum

It's no shock that Fort Simpson finished fifth out of six communities in a preliminary review for the location of the Super Corp.

The criteria generally skew things in favour of the larger centres. Although Yellowknife -- the NWT's capital and only city -- did not come out on top (but it was close), the two other communities that fared well have two to three times the population boasted by Fort Simpson. Naturally they are going to have superior amenities, infrastructure and, by virtue of their locations, better prices.

The greatest concern, as Fort Simpson Mayor Tom Wilson stated, is that if such criteria are the basis for government decisions, then how will the smaller communities like Fort Simpson get ahead?

On the one hand, the report did not identify Yellowknife as the ideal location. That does hold some promise for Hay River and Fort Smith, which are only a fraction of Yellowknife's size. They, too, undoubtedly consider themselves David to the capital's Goliath.

Yet Fort Simpson, Rae-Edzo and Inuvik appear to be lost in the shuffle.

Inuvik has been booming with oil and gas activity, which may partially account for its low score on available housing. As well, its northerly latitude drives up costs for housing, groceries and transportation.

Rae-Edzo is an enigma, as it is supposedly benefitting from diamond mine agreements and jobs, yet is identified as having the highest unemployment rate among the six communities.

Fort Simpson, judging by the report's indicators, has a rather sluggish economy. If community leaders and Nahendeh MLA Jim Antoine can't convince the government that the Super Corp. belongs there, then Fort Simpson will have to keep waiting for the fruits of the Mackenzie Valley pipeline.

To some the Super Corp. may look like an investment opportunity, a chance for the GNWT to help a community like Fort Simpson upgrade its amenities so it could be the desired location. However, if pressed, the territorial government is surely going to point to its empty piggy bank and remind everyone that it has a huge deficit hanging over its head.

Homeless in Deh Cho

The GNWT should consider reinvesting in housing for teachers. By taking a hands-off approach -- to ostensibly encourage home ownership -- the territorial government is putting undue stress on some teachers to find a place to live.

Last year, one Fort Liard educator lived in a motel room with his wife and three children for a month while waiting and hoping for a house to become available. That's ridiculous.

The same sticky situation occasionally applies to some other government employees, such as nurses and social workers.

As the word gets out that the North has such limited accommodations to offer teachers and nurses, the recruitment and retention process will be even more difficult.