In the event you Missouri fisherpersons out there have not read the 2008 "Missouri Fishing Regulations", it might be wise to do so, in particular if you partake of any of your catch.

These regulations read, in part, "Because all fish have various levels of mercury, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends sensitive populations consume no more than one meal per week when no other advisory is present."

Sensitive populations are in essence, any female of childbearing age, whether pregnant or not, and children under age 13.

Of course, not to be outdone by the coal-fired power plant and incinerator industries for pumping toxic mercury into our air, water, and land, the lead mining industries are making their mark as well. Another advisory listed in the regulations are for ALL CONSUMERS and it states simply, "DO NOT EAT". Where and why?

Where? Black River and Simpson Park. In the Middle Fork of the Black River, smallmouth bass is the specie and lead is the contaminant. Length? All sizes, and all consumers. DO NOT EAT.

There are several caveats for Simpson Park Lake at Simpson Park in St. Louis County. For largemouth bass, again, it is "DO NOT EAT" because of lead, mercury, and chlordane. And for buffalo fish, because they are laden with mercury, chlordane, and PCB's (polychlorinated biphenyls), all consumers are advised they should not eat more than one per week. (Ed.: How about none?)

Well, that's the good news about what industry has done to our food supply.