Richard,



I agree with you that it appears essentially impossible for releasing a few non-native reptiles to have a significant impact on a native population. I think we also agree that it is not something to be encouraged. And I also believe that this concern is a very weak arguement (at best) against the captive husbandry and propagation of reptiles in general.



Let me say a couple things about the fish. I'm most familiar with California. The stocking of high-elevation lakes is a whole new kettle of beans as no trout were native in most cases (and trout stocking is certainly a factor in the decline of some herp species, e.g. Rana muscosa). I don't think they stock any (or very few) brook trout in the high elevation lakes any more, but I think it makes much difference.



In some cases the CADFG seems to be trying to do the right thing, e.g. stocking the correct subspecies of rainbow trout in the Kern River (but I understand there are some technical problems raising the fish?). In other cases, like salmon, I'm not so sure. The situation with the CADFG with regards to fish is much different than for herps. They bring in a lot of money with fishing lisences... They have an establish culture of fish stocking which is very hard to change (for better or worse)...



Regards,



Carl B.

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