Regarding The Bellingham Herald June 18 article on the Department of Ecology's attempt to address fecal coliform contamination in our local shellfish habitat, certain contributing factors were not mentioned.

For decades, the City of Victoria has been discharging millions of gallons of raw sewage daily into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, which feeds into Puget Sound through currents and tidal effect. While that city is currently making an effort to rectify this practice, untreated discharge continues.

And, with particular regard to Drayton Harbor, the silence is deafening regarding its large colony of harbor seals that defecate daily into this confined area, while decimating runs of Coho and King salmon that migrate up California and Dakota creeks.

I rather doubt that fecal contamination in this area is limited to septic systems, livestock, pets and human waste from boaters, as the Department of Ecology suggests.

Patrick J. Guimond

Blaine