Grandpa:

The balance we have seen for the past 100 years has resulted the decimation of many of our wild salmon runs.

I think most who ask for balance may be forgetting that the scales have been tipped so far against the fish that any true balance would be much more draconian than I or most would support. I know you are not one of those for whom balance is a code word for screw the fish let's make some more money. But there are many for whom that is the case.

In this instance we are simply talking about how to determine if a particular run of wild fish is endangered. Once that determination is made we can decide how to best protect the stocks. To date we have allowed harvest of fish that had previously been declared endangered. That is not balance!

In the name of balance would you be willing to delist an endangered stock simply because the hatchery run in that river is strong? Do you think any stocks should be declared endangered?