RICH

I think that everyone here knows of your passion for wild fish. There is nothing to say bad about that; it is a very noble passion, and I for one will never knock your passion. But, and yes, there is always a "BUT" in life, there is just an equal passion for people who love to catch and eat fish, be it hatchery or whatever!

The world it not what it was 50 years ago and neither is our wild fish runs. In my OPINION, the wild fish will never be here again in the numbers that they originally once were. So how do we continue our sport fishing/harvest if we do not continue our hatcheries? Yes, we all know that they need some improvements, but isn't that the way that everything is improved?.. by new knowledge?

Being involved in the law as you are, surely you understand that people do not like or accept change. But change is a way of life that this world has been adapting to forever. You are truly one of the last of the steelhead Mohegan's!

But like the Mohegan's, time changes everything and one must adapt to what the reality is. Reality is; hatcheries are needed to supplement the needs of the many.

I do know that we do have our differences, and I also know that neither of us is likely to change soon. Our debates will help others "decide" if they want "fish to harvest" or fish to "hook and release"! I guest you would call our differences "the good, the bad, and the ugly"! People will make there own minds up very soon on what they want to do.

Cowlitzfisherman