All right all you beeyotches, oops "critics" is what I meant to say; here is the version I will release.

The Catch-and-Release of Native, Wild Steelhead

A steelhead is one of the most sought after sport-fish in the world, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. It is considered by many to be one of the most elusive sport-fish to catch. There are two types of steelhead in the Pacific Northwest: the native, wild spawning steelhead and the hatchery-produced steelhead. Hatchery-produced steelhead is produced to enhance angler opportunity. Over the years, people have been allowed to keep sport-caught, native steelhead. This has significantly contributed to their demise in many watersheds, such as the Satsop River in the state of Washington. At one time, there used to be a run of native steelhead in many rivers, but with the commercial fishermen and Native Americans netting the river 6 days a week, those numbers have dwindled greatly. This netting has driven some native steelhead river runs to the point of being protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act. This effort has curtailed fishing for them, but unfortunately in some cases, this effort is too little, too late. However, it is a different scenario for other rivers.

The United States government has set up programs to help reverse the damage that has occurred. One of these programs has been the implementation of hatchery programs. The government, in conjunction with electric power companies, has put hatcheries on river systems for run enhancement. This program is designed to allow fisherman to harvest a hatchery fish or two for consumption. In recent years, they have enacted laws and programs to improve river-spawning habitat. Despite the dwindling wild, native fish runs, some people still feel the need to catch and kill native steelhead. This practice is still allowed on several Washington state rivers, while the neighboring state of Oregon has implemented catch-and-release regulations on the majority of their steelhead rivers.

There are many examples of fishermen who have been allowed to over fish for native steelhead, and because they harvested too many of these native steelhead, the fishery diminished to a fraction of what it once was. One example is the Hamma Hamma River located on the Olympic Peninsula. At one time this river had a large native steelhead run, but because one riverfront property owner limited the access to the river in an attemp to help preserve the run, the Government stopped stocking the river with hatchery plants. The remaining native steelhead population was thus over-harvested, until the Federal Endangered Species Act protected these fish from harvest.

Until the state of Washington implements catch-and-release regulations for all remaining wild steelhead, too many sport fishermen will not stop killing them. The issue of Native American gillnetting of these fish is also a big factor, and it seems impossible to change after many legal attempts to do so. I hope these groups of people will soon reduce their harvest of these fish also because if/when the native, wild steelhead are gone, all that will be left is a faint memory of these irreplaceable, precious fish. We, as United State citizens, should exhaust all efforts in an attempt to notify the Washington Department of Fish and Game to change the current regulations before it's too late. This effort can start by writing letters to your state and federal representatives, as well as the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

----> Oooh he do have a way wit werds don't he? You will find this to be grammatically correct and "spelt" Korrecklee.

I have saved a copy to my Word documents, so if you want it, just send me an email and I will attach it.

Next up, is Sex Education
muh ha ha ha ha ha

[ 04-12-2001: Message edited by: hey_yall ]