Not literally, of course, but figuratively speaking, after receiving donations of $500 in each of 2005 and 2006 (a total of $1,000, as reported via www.VPAP.org) from Omega Seafood, the Texas based menhaden processor that owns the Reedville Virginia facility and fishing operation that is accused of over fishing and depleting the menhaden stocks of the Chesapeake Bay, Rockbridge voters have the right to focus upon Del. Ben Cline's actions and votes upon this issue.. Critics claim this overfishing depletes Menhaden stock, a basic food source for many species, thereby triggering a "up the food chain" decline in all Chesapeake bay fisheries. $1,000 in campaign contributions is a very large sum for a Texas company with operations in Reedville to be donating to a delegate from Rockbridge - large enough that Rockbridge, Lexington and Buena Vista voters should pay careful attention to Ben Cline's votes on this issue in the future and be sure Ben isn't just another fish caught in a Texas net woven with Texas money. In the 2007 General Assembly session, Ben Cline voted lock-stock and barrel to support the Omega backed "cap" which set a cap that equals or exceeds recent years catches, a figure that is meaningless with the declining population. This measure was backed by Omega to head off more stringent caps that they feared might otherwise be enacted. Critics say the cap is too high to be effective, but Omega counters with that the cap will work and that the menhaden fishery is healthy and growing. Science on the subject seems to be in short supply. The rest of Virginia will have to wait and see, and hope we don't learn to late that Ben Cline helped sell the Chesapeake Bay to Texas. Or Rockbridge voters can pressure Ben Cline to use his voice on the House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee to ensure that state agencies further monitor the effectiveness of the cap, have funds to conduct scientific studies, and, if necessary, impose more stringent limits in future years.