CFM…..First off, thanks for the Columbia River info. Obviously, you have spent a bit of time studying that river, and I won’t dispute your data. Instead, let me be more specific concerning the area I am more familiar with and I will speak from personal experience. Up until The Decision, it was possible to fish many of the North Olympic Peninsula streams for steelhead with assured success. I’m speaking of streams like Morse Creek, Salt Creek, Lyre River, East and West Twin Rivers, Deep Creek, Physt River, etc. The reason was simple….there was no interest in netting these streams. The Decision changed all that and within two seasons of The Decision, fish were tough to find. In all fairness, some of those runs are returning and once again fish can be caught (some of these streams are now closed, however), albeit not close to the numbers they used to be. The bigger rivers can withstand the net punishment much better than the little streams and rivers, yet The Almighty Buck drove the Tribes to nearly wipe those runs out. All the sport fishing up to that point had very little affect year after year, but all that changed with the introduction of nets to those small streams. I know what I experienced and saw.

Concerning the “50%” aspect of the treaties….Apparently most have been duped into believing that “50%” of a resource to 2% of the population is what my ancestors agreed to……you have to be kidding! I’m not being a smartass, but what’s that do to your gut? The feeling it leaves in mine hasn’t changed since I first heard it. Do the math...49 white guys with 49 fish equals 1 Indian with 49 fish. (based on 2% tribal influence to total population) And for what it’s worth, I don’t blame the Indians……I blame us!! We have allowed this idiot decision to stand and deserve what we get, but it’s not right…..and no matter how many times it is repeated, it doesn’t sound any smarter.

My two cents….I’m done with this….and again, thanks, CFM!