He contends that the solution to health problems is not through an outright ban, but through stricter compliance to the laws. The Department of Fish and Game inspects all turtles and frogs brought to California, Lee said. Part of the problem, according to Lee, is that there is no standard in handling these animals, so what may look cruel to some people, may actually be the proper way of handling the animals. Then, they will move on to try to stop other Chinese practices they don't like. But Mills, who videotaped caged animals in some Chinatown markets, said his group is not picking on Chinese Americans.
Racism is a bogus argument.
We're all immigrants in this country. Martarano, the Department of Fish and Game spokesman, said the department is readying its position on the issue and will submit its report before the Feb. 6 hearing. In September 1997, the Inland Fisheries Division conducted a study in response to the demand by animal-rights activist to ban the practice of selling live turtles, frogs, chickens, and other animals for food. The study said that harvesting wild turtles or frogs is prohibited by California law, and that a vast majority of the animals sold in markets are imported from such states as Arkansas, Florida, Texas, Iowa, and also from abroad, most notably from Taiwan. In addition, the animals are mostly farm-raised, although there is a concern that some may have been harvested from the wild.