I'll have to agree with TM's idea having merit....especially with HW's addition to the idea. No it shouldn't be used as a tool similar to the hatchery one's that helped get us in this mess...but there may be cases where it could be effective and may be the only way to restore wild steelies in certain rivers. Take the Dosie and Duck as examples....the wild runs in these two rivers probably aren't much above a 100 fish each. The habitats essentially untouched but the runs that supported one of my oldtimer friends glory years of several hundred released fish per season and 34 fish days.The remnant stocks are likely incapable of restoring themselves and normal hatchery supplementation of course just isn't making it. Only answer I can see is along the lines of TM's idea.

One thing for all to consider is the dangers of becoming locked into the trap of "orthodoxy" when approaching problem solutions. The hatchery "orthodoxy" is on the way out...fine...but I'm concerned the new one may not be the solution to every problem either.

Gooose