DR.....You should write to Tony Floor, formerly with the WDFW and now with NW Marine Trade Association. He is very knowledgeable on the reasons for the situation with the Puget Sound blackmouth program's decline.

In all fairness to WT, they have in the past worked on decreasing the gill net devastation to our fish runs. They have also worked on habitat related issues and programs.

While WT is apparently hell-bent on closing our hatcheries supposedly to save wild fish the sportsmen and women of this state have proven their ability to catch and release wild fish this summer. Thanks, in part to Norm Dicks, we have an expanded mass marking program that is working well,too. We have also had some good luck with the ocean conditions which have helped fish runs tremendously. Programs to reduce the commercial fleet have been showing results in lowering harvest. Canada and the US settled disputes and have implemented fishing restrictions that have resulted in much higher returns in the last two years especially.

Abolishing all the hatcheries like WT wants is an extreme measure as suing WDFW to get their own way was an extreme measure.. Wild fish will not miraculously rebound if that happens any more than removing all the dams will. Removing all the people from Washington and shipping us all to Idaho would help. Tearing down all the freeways and houses and factories and schools would help too. Should we do that next? To save "wild" fish?