First off, I need to apologize, my name's Emmett O'Connell, I am the Hood Canal/SJD info officer with the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission. I posted Byron's letter here because we wanted to get the word out before the Oct. 16 opening and I knew this would be a great place, since a lot of anglers surf here.

I can address the stripping issue right now, the other questions, can you give me a call? I can call your right back to save you on long distance, and we can go over all your quesitons. I'm at 360-297-6546. If anyone else has any questions on tribal fisheries, I can either answer them for you or find out for you.

On stripping: What must be kept in mind are the market forces that draw tribal fisherman to strip eggs from salmon carcasses. When fish buyers pay only a fraction for fish meat compared to what they pay for eggs it leaves little to wonder about why tribal fisherman would leave carcasses in exchange for their eggs. Currently, buyers are paying only up to 40 cents a pound for any type of salmon, but up to 5 dollars a pound for eggs. Salmon eggs are particularly desirable in the caviar market for their naturally occurring oils, large size and ability to retain their shape as an attractive market product.

Unfortunately, despite the tribes’ desire to donate excess salmon carcasses to food banks and other worthy causes, doing so is often beyond their resources. While they have donated carcasses to the public and to food banks and shelters locally, wider distribution is a much more difficult task. There is a high cost to process and keep fish fresh for human consumption.

If you have any suggestions for other sources we might tap to dispose of salmon, we would be more than happy to hear them. We always welcome suggestions that make tribal fisheries more effective.

Lastly, it is illegal under tribal regulations to dispose of a salmon carcass without recording that catch. Dumping in areas and in amounts that might cause pollution is also prohibited. This year, instead of being left on stream banks, many of the carcasses are being dumped out in the Hood Canal.

Tribes take their responsibility to regulate fisheries very seriously and fishing violations are not condoned. Tribal fisherman who violate regulations appear in tribal courts, where they face stiff fines, loss of fishing privileges and even jail time.