The CRC (catch record card) goes into effect this month in a week or so. The data will not be meaningful until 2005 but will eventually allow the WDFW people to more accurately measure the real sports catch. At roughly 16% of the total catch allocated to us,the sports fishers are second class citizens. Problem is we are financing the fishery much more so than the pitance being paid by commercials and the free ride being taken by the tribes. The tribes do not even contribute tax proceeds to the stae and yet they set their strings of crab pots for months 7 days a week after the rest of the paying citizens are on the beach. The imbalance in shellfishing is mind boggling since the Rafeedie decision gave away 50% of the harvestable stocks. If we are hell bent on allowing the tribes to take over our fisheries in the name of Boldt and Rafeedie atleast we can demand a split with the non tribal commercials. Somewhere along the line we need to stand up and revolt. We can do so with facts and science. The CRC is going to give us some much needed ammo. IN the mean time a reduction in catch is a real slap in the face. The notion that an indivudual can catch more than they can eat is prepostorous in that no one says you have to catch your "limit". No one should assert that we all catch our "limit" either or that we crab 24/7. For those who think they get more than they need I say...don't catch so many. To the majority of crabbers being allowed to harvest a fair share is the name of this game.