September 12, 2003

Mr. Payer,

Thank you for the response.

Longear sunfish.     You are correct that longears are listed on the pond
approved for non-indigenous species.  Fathead minnows and bluegill sunfish
are also listed on that license along with every other species of fish found
in Minnesota.  Are you suggesting that all of those species are
non-indigneous because they are listed on the non-indigenous license?  If
you look on the May 30 2001 document from Mr. Goeman you will see that he
denied the importation/stocking of orangespotted sunfish solely because they
were non-indigenous yet he approved the longears.  If what you say is true
then why did he deny orangespotted sunfish to my entire facility when my
facility had non-indigenous licensed ponds available?

Koi.       I have a DNR document that states the koi were approved for ponds
on the west side of the road.  That strongly suggests an attempt to cover-up
of Mr. Goemans arbitrary and capricious decision to cancel my non-indigenous
license.  It was not specified on the import/stocking permit as you say.

Goemans statement.      On the issue of Mr. Goeman's arbitrary declaration
that I needed his approval to sell any of my fish anywhere in Minnesota. I
asked Mr. Johannes on 8 separate occasions if the statement was correct or
incorrect.  The closest Mr. Johannes could come to contradicting Mr. Goemans
incorrect statement was to say that the all-inclusive statement was general
correct.  This is false because the statement says EVERY FISH.  I contacted
the MN AG office and received assurance that the statement was incorrect.
The person doing the transportation/stocking is the person needing the
permit.  It is also incorrect to imply that fish raised in ponds licensed
for non-indigenous species are somehow treated differently than those raised
in ponds licensed for indigenous only.  The destination of those fish raised
in non-indigenous ponds may be into watersheds where they are considered
indigenous therefore Mr. Goemans declaration is false on both counts.

Sincerely,
John Reynolds
Midwest Fish and Crayfish
26385 County Road 3
Merrifield MN 56465