On 8/2/10 3:52 PM, Tim wrote:
On Aug 2, 10:48 am, Harry wrote:
On 8/2/10 11:09 AM, John H wrote:





Took the boat to Pohick Bay yesterday, after noticing how well the new cover is
working out. Some very heavy rain got my neighboring boat's cover over the past
couple weeks. He is now a believer in the use of tight straps rather than bungee
cords for keeping his cover taut.

Daughter, SIL, and grandkids arrived at the launch ramp about the same time I
did, so no one had to wait. With three adults and four little ones, the boat was
pretty full. The Yamaha 150 had no problem getting us moving though.

http://tinyurl.com/39klfrb

I might even have a new boat captain in the making...

http://tinyurl.com/32a3c48

We got to a little boaters beach outside Occoquan, VA, anchored and let the kids
start running around.

http://tinyurl.com/34heavr

The kids wanted to do some tubing, which I'd never tried before. This was the
tube I got last fall. Worked well, and they had a blast. The picture takers kept
using the zoom, so most of the tubing shots didn't come out.Here's my daughter
having fun...

http://tinyurl.com/2vmqr3r

Daughter took this picture of my $30,000 towel rack.

http://tinyurl.com/3ypjvl6

Great time had by all!

'Toxic stew' of chemicals causing male fish to carry eggs in testes

Intersex fish, found across the US, result from a mix of drugs that
mimic natural hormones, say scientists

* Suzanne Goldenberg, US environment correspondent
* guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 21 April 2010 11.05 BST

More than 80% of the male bass fish in Washington's major river are now
exhibiting female traits such as egg production because of a "toxic
stew" of pollutants, scientists and campaigners reported yesterday.

Intersex fish probably result from drugs, such as the contraceptive
pill, and other chemicals being flushed into the water and have been
found right across the US.

The Potomac Conservancy, which focuses on Washington DC's river, called
for new research to determine what was causing male smallmouth bass to
carry immature eggs in their testes. "We have not been able to identify
one particular chemical or one particular source," said Vicki Blazer, a
fish biologist with the US geological survey. "We are still trying to
get a handle on what chemicals are important."

But she said early evidence pointed to a mix of chemicals – commonly
used at home as well as those used in large-scale farming operations –
causing the deformities. The suspect chemicals mimic natural hormones
and disrupt the endocrine system, with young fish being particularly
susceptible.

The chemicals could include birth control pills and other drugs,
toiletries especially those with fragrances, products such as tissues
treated with antibacterial agents, or goods treated with flame
retardants that find their way into waste water. However, Blazer also
pointed to runoff from fertilisers and pesticides from agricultural areas.

About 5 million people live in the greater Washington area, and 90% of
them get their drinking water from the Potomac.

"We need to get these toxins out of our river water," said Hedrick
Belin, the president of the Potomac Conservancy. The campaign group
called for $3m (£1.9m) in research over three years on endocrine
disrupters on their effects on fish. It also called on the authorities
to involve pharmaceutical companies in the safe disposal of drugs, and
to invest in technology that can filter out endocrine disrupting compounds.

- - -

Well, that explains why herring is such a girlie girl...he swims in a
river of ****, and takes his grandchildren to swim there, too. Health
problems in their future?- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Awww. fer pitys sake, Harry. Whats the problem with a guy taking his
family out for a day of boating? They're having fun. I can tell that
Herring enjoys his family and looking at his boat it cost him quite a
bit of change so that they could have a blast on the water. I know
what a thrill it is to take my family out for a day, especially for
the daughter and nephews to go tubing and skiing, and I enjoy reading
and seeing others having fun on such an outing. I wish I could have
joined them.

After all this is a boating group that's origional intentions were to
talk about boating and boat related activities. So, give the guy a
break, will ya?



My comments were about swimming in a river of pollution, not boating in it.