Your View: Statement on great whites doesn’t make it true

By Roger Raffee

La Jolla resident

I just read the comments by L. Jordan-Smith, Ph.D., in your Oct. 13 issue. In it, he says, “There is no evidence that their (great white sharks) movements are related to seal presence.”

Obviously, Dr. Jordan-Smith isn’t a doctor of anything ocean related. This is a good example of the fallacy of making a false statement appear to be true by simply stating it. Any experienced waterman, fisherman or oceanographer and probably much of the ocean-oriented general public knows that great white sharks eat seals. Not only do they eat them, but seals are their main source of food. There are a multitude of studies by oceanographers detailing how great white sharks study the movements and stalk seals around the world. (There is a story on the Discovery Channel which compares great whites to serial murderers.)

I know it’s the editorial page and people can put their opinions in there but to display nonsense untrue statements as fact diminishes the point of view being put forward. In this case Dr. Jordan-Smith doesn’t do the pro-seal argument any favors.