Just wanted to make a couple of comments....first I don't have any idea if 350K is a reasonable escapement number. I'm assuming our fish biologists make their best educated guess even though they can be wrong just like the rest of us. I also assume its better to error on the high side to ensure the long term health of the run. Finally, 350K doesn't seem very high in comparison to escapement goals on some rivers in Alaska.

Regarding comments about the tribes getting their fish so I should get mine.....I'll just assume this is an emotionally driven statement because it totally ignores the law and the reality of Indian fishing rights. As a sportfisherman I'm just as unhappy about Native Americans having fishing rights that differ from ours as anyone else, but all arguments about unfairness, wasting fish, bad interpretation of treaties, etc. etc. etc. aside, the crux of the matter is the government/we struck a deal that guaranteed Indians certain rights....among them fishing rights. So even if we are unhappy about it we can't just retrade the deal. When is the last time you went to your mortgage company and said....ya know I'm unhappy about giving you $1,500 a month for my house.....so why don't I just give you $1,000 because things have changed and it would be better for me? Maybe the Indians are saying ya know 50% of run used to half a million fish now its a measly 100,000 fish, maybe we should ask for 75% of the run to make up for it. Anyway, just my 2 cents worth.

JMS

Oh, one more thing, which may be better for another thread.....has anyone considered pursuing these sockeye salmon in the salt, say outside the Shilshoe Bay boundary line before they head into Lake Washington? Just curious.