Re: Sue, etcetera.........

From
Date
Diego

<<I think that those "commercial paleontologists" should be prohibited.>>

 While I decry the theft and unlawful removable of specimens from the
field, I can not and will not support a ban on the commercial sale of
fossils.

For example, I regularly collect a lot of common _Macraster sp_ (heart
urchins) and _Neithea sp_  (scallops) and donate them to a museum for
resale to the public (children mostly).  While I may not be getting paid to
do this voluntary collecting, I could be considered a commercial
paleotologist as the fossils I collect are ultimately sold for a profit. 
For if as you say  "on fossils is Knowledge and Science," then I am
obviously prohibiting the "Knowledge and Science" of these specimens to be
gleaned and am turning them over to a commercial concern for sale. But you
probably meant that only "scientifically important" fossils should be
protected from commercialization. The simple question is - who is going to
determine that "importance"??  You, a committee, or by fiat from the
government???   Or perhaps you meant that only vertebrate fossils should be
protected?? What about the invertebrate???  If you make the prohibition too
large - I go to jail - too specific and it becomes a quagmire of special
interests trying to get their class of fossils on the protected list.

You said - << For the contradiction, they are not paleontologists! It is an
aberration!,>>

I disagree - they are paleontologists - they practice the craft of the
study of ancient life.  What you are upset about is their choice of what to
do with that knowledge. 

You said <<LETS STOP IT!>>

Not in my lifetime - amigo!!

Roger Fry
avocational, amateur, extra academic, commercialist, crass capitalist, or
whatever you wish to call me