Judith Lavoie's article on the growing opposition to the U.S. plan to study orca movements might have been entitled, "U.S. plans to pierce orcas a real pain."

Canadian research scientists also use tags to track orca movement, but they invest in more costly equipment that use suction cups rather than skin-piercing barbs, and gather new information, rather than the U.S. plan to confirm what is already well understood.

It is all well and good for the U.S. scientists to note the tag is only the size of nine-volt battery. I wonder if they've had a sliver that became infected.

It's still a real pain and for no gain.

Milt Wright

Sooke