It has absolutely nothing to do with economics and everything to do with politics. The numbers have been there for a good many years to show that the sport fishery for salmon and steelhead is, even today, of much greater value to the state's economy than the equivalent commercial fishery. Treaty rights, in the case of the tribes, and political clout, in the case of the non-tribal commercials, have always over-ridden and continue to over-ride any management process based on a sound economic basis.

[This message has been edited by Preston Singletary (edited 01-23-2001).]