NM

Replies such as yours are more than welcome with me! I have no problem with fair and reasonable positions such as yours.

But…

You just stated "Those harvest rates are thought to be appropriate for hatchery fish, but are way too high for a naturally spawning population. Perhaps inbreeding between hatchery and wild fish has also contributed to the declines of the early returning fish, but overfishing has surely been a big factor." You are dead right NM!

Yes, over fishing has been a "factor" but who do you think really contributed to that "over factor". Do you really believe that sport fishers are the ones, or do you believe like many of us do; the "commercials" are the ones (well, maybe a few crazy Indians tribes depending on the water shed that you are talking about) are the real ones to blame?

Grant it, we all play a part in the decline of our fish runs, but just look at the overall numbers of fish that are harvested each year and by whom they are harvested by! Sport fishermen normally have the ability to harvest selective fish and release the ones that are not meant to be harvested. What other fishers have such ability? It will certainly not happen in any kind of a "net fishery"…right?

Can you explain how that works in a "commercial fishery" or any type of other fishery?

Don't give up; my reply to your post is only a questioner one, becuase I need to see where you are going!

Making minds think is our biggest chanledge.

If Salmo, is out there, I am more than sure that he will jump in and voice is opinion...and that's a good thing!

Cowlitzfisherman.