A chara, - Am I alone in feeling sadness and disgust at the photograph of the dead tuna in your edition of September 24th? This great sea creature has been reduced to a giant, bloody corpse to be gawped at by the public and bragged about by the man who slaughtered it. It apparently fought for its life for four hours. Is there no pity at all for the suffering of that creature struggling on a hook for that length of time?
If these great fish must be killed to satisfy people's tastebuds, surely it can be done in a more humane way. On the other hand, if the purpose of extending the sea angling season is to provide extra time for the enjoyment of a "sport" may I suggest that the answer lies in a close examination of that photograph. Such an activity is not only unspeakably cruel to the victim but as degrading to the participants as any other blood sport.
Will human beings ever extend to other creatures the respect and "rights" they demand for themselves? - Is mise,
Dr DEIRDRE WICKS, Canrawer, Oughterard, Co Galway.