Thanks for the info, Andy... there are some things in there that I hadn't heard.

I've got a couple of points, though.

1. Show me an recent State Intitiative (doesn't matter if it's one that has passed or hasn't) that isn't flawed. Tell me how you would propose affecting the Tribal (federally governed) fisheries with a State Initiative. 696 made provisions for bait fish fisheries... plus, why, when herring was scarce this past spring, was everyone saying that all of our bait herring here comes from Canada and Alaska?? and let me take you out some time and show you how to catch salmon with spoons, no bait.

2. Historically, when fishing becomes an "industry" someplace, it lasts, at most, three or four generations. These days, with the technology we have at hand, it rarely lasts more than two generations. (examples: cod in the eastern North Atlantic, striped bass off the New England coast, lobsters in Maine, cod off of Newfoundland, Atlantic salmon in New England, what was it, redfish in Florida, the list goes on) Why? Because when it's an "industry" people get greedy.. they need bigger and bigger boats to compete, they need to catch more fish, they get inrooted in the political structure and lobby and pass laws to allow them to try to get rich... all at the expense of the resource. So now the tought time has come for the "industry" here, for some of these people to go out of business... I say good riddens.

3. If there are no living wage jobs in an area, there is probably a pretty darn good reason for it... like all the freakin' resources have been exploited for 100+ years and there's nothing left!!! No trees, no fish. Move, or figure out something else to do, like everyone else has to do.

4. The trollers troll way offshore as it is, and if they can't target chinook anyway, what's the big deal about the 3 mile boundary?

5. I didn't buy the "I can't put my neighbor out of work" stance then, and I don't buy it now. These commercial fishermen are the buffalo hunters of the 21st century, whether we stop them before they kill the absolute last fish, or let the business die out on its own in 10 years, doesn't matter to anyone but the fish. Actually, let me rephrase that... these commercials are not the "farmers" many make them out to be, they are the GOLD MINERS of the 20th and 21st century, and guess what, the seam has run out... maybe they should have thought about their OWN pension and retirement when they were catching all those fish back in the "Good 'ol days" why the heck should we have to support them now, what have they done for the taxpayers, other than cost us money? and I haven't ever heard someone say it, so I will... when is someone going to give me a buyback program on my sportfishing boat?

I have friends that are commercial fishermen. They all fish in Alaska, they all realize it's a dying industry here, and I think in the back of their head they realize what they're doing up in AK won't last forever, either. I think that's why they are encouraging their sons to do someting other than fish.

P.S. Was Kevin the schoolteacher a commercial troller back in "the good 'ol days"?

-N.