In response to Naomi Salie’s letter [October 2-9]: we have sailed the same route in August. The number of whale-watching boats is ridiculous. Why can’t humans leave these creatures alone?

What is it that you are going to see for your bucks? A pod of beautiful animals that should be left in peace. Imagine yourself being watched while doing your daily things. You put up blinds, curtains, locks, et cetera, to preserve your privacy and maintain your holy peace. Why can’t you grant the same to these animals?

Several years ago, we went to Tofino and engaged a boat to take us to Hot Springs Cove. There were five people on the boat (strangers) and all agreed that we didn’t want to watch whales, we just wanted to go to the springs. The skipper was on the radio all the time listening for “sightings” from other boats, and despite our protests took us over to one of the places where someone saw a whale. We could see at least 20 boats surrounding this single creature with their motors running. All we could see of the whale was its tail as he desperately tried to find his way out. Very sad, if you ask me. But business rules this world, and certainly it rules our society. As long
as there will be people paying for whale-watching there will be whale-watching, same as prostitution.

> Margaret Kowalski / Vancouver