The Hoh is my favorite river. We caught our first true hogs of all kinds on this river years ago. To me there is not another river like it. Here is my response.

Mr. Steve Stoddard
Chief Executive Officer
James M. Welch
Chairman
Restaurants Unlimited

Dear sirs,
We have had many business dinners at your restaurants in the past. Your establishments have been top notch and we have enjoyed them to the greatest extent. However, we have found that you have been serving Hoh River Wild Steelhead. I was reading an online billboard and read your company's letters posted. We request you immediately stop and refuse the use of Wild Hoh River Steelhead now and future. This is one of the most pristine rivers on the Washington Coastline. These fish are not and have not been making escapement goals necessary to sustain the runs to exist. The tribal netting practices of netting the entire river is disastrous. It is even worse when they chase them into the nets with their boats, which I have witnessed. I have fished this river many years in the past and do not care to keep a wild Steelhead from it. In fact we have not Steelhead fished it since it cannot make escapement. Since learning of your support to net this river for Steelhead, we are now as a group, not going to support your organization and are banning it from places to support. We have never done this before. We are not an environmental group but sportsfishers that care that these fish will be there for future runs and generations. Since the federal government and tribes do not protect them, it is our duty to make sure these runs exist. I am reminded of the example of the depleting Marlin runs on the East Coast. The only people to willing to save them were the restaurant chefs refusing to cook them. All others commercial fishers wanted to fish them to extinction. I am taking this letter to the Puget Sound Anglers State Board meeting tomorrow where 14 chapters from around the state will be represented. They can take it back to their chapters for dispersal. Afterwards, will be the Recreational Fishing Alliance Washington Chapter and RFA National General meeting. The Puget Sound Anglers Chapters represent about 5000 families in the Western Washington Area. The Recreational Fishing Alliance Washington Chapter covers all of Washington State. RFA National covers the entire United States. All will be present and informed of your choice to support the extinction of the true wild Hoh River Steelhead. I cannot in good faith patronize any of your establishments with this kind of disregard for these depleting fish until I get a response from you that you have terminated using these Steelhead. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely yours,

Ron Garner
Puget Sound Anglers
Sno-King Chapter President
WDFW Shrimp Advisor
PSA State Board Member
RFA Washington Member
Garner Commercial Interior
Construction-President