wolves are predators as are coyotes and foxes and that is fine. What has happened with the seals is that us humans have once again got into engineering nature. We have made seals some sort of diety and have thereby changed the natural order of things to an extreme. Prior to the current politically correct mania we see in every aspect of our society seals and sea lions were nowhere near what we see now, atleast around here. We have created a protected population that is so well protected and pampered that it is growing out of control. A little common sense is in order. I am not really advocating mass killing of seals but simply pointing out how far we have come in our crazy quest to engineer nature.

During our recent blackmouth derby we had a big blackmouth on the line West of Point No Point...when the fish was within 50 yards of the boat a semi-circle of seals moved in around the line and all went under at the same time. No more fish. We also saw several seals (not sea lions) coming to the surface with salmon in their mouths. Hunters thin herds of deer and elk and help stabilize the populations all over the country. Too many would result in starvation and death anyway. Perhaps the same thing is happening to the seal population. I think the Makah's have the right idea. Man afterall is a predator too. A natural predator just like the seals in the food chain. I don't expect to see much change unless the salmon runs collapse and the seals move out of Puget Sound. Could happen I guess.