Well, did I step on some toes or what? I'll try to answer the questions as best I can. Please understand my intentions are not to play the blame game. The pollution remark was made because it seems so many on this board can only see the corks in the river.While it's true wild steelhead are being killed by the nets it's also true, that at the same time, wild salmon and steelhead smolts are dying from the pollution.

Dan S-I think everyone who reads the Daily World knows about the pollution problem Grays Harbor has. The biggest factor has to be the high mortality rate on the smolts.

Humptime- The tribes fish because they have a legal right to.

Scotty98541- The fish sell the same as any other, they taste different to me however.

Rich G-I'm not the tribal spokesperson so I can't answer your question(s). My opinion is that the tribes will continue to fish as long as the co-managers tell them that there are harvestable fish.

Ihookum-By law, tribes and non-tribal split the harvestable fish.

Silverspoon-bathtub Bob- The Quinaults raise coho in the Ocean Shores Marina. They have been involved in raising steelhead at the Humptulips hatchery and were helping with the "Long Live the Kings" project. They spend a lot of money each year conducting spawner surveys on the Chehalis and it's tributaries for steelhead and salmon escapement estimates.

I believe that a lot of members of this board are directing their frustrations at the tribes. The tribal fishermen are only doing what they have a legal right to do. The co-managers decide if they fish or not. I'm not suggesting slamming the co-managers either. If you have a problem with the current method (science) direct your resources at developing and proving a better one.




[This message has been edited by potter (edited 03-21-2001).]