My context for mouth snagging or tail snagging is the Quilcene River. I've fished it twice. The first time, I actually was kinda by myself and didn't really notice what was happening. The second time, I got the drift and thought, "Ok, don't need to go back there."

I have to admit. I go every year and watch. Kind of like "survivor" on TV. Don't know why, but I just have to watch and it's interesting. I stand on the bank of the river for an hour and watch. It's weird.

But in defense of the people that I see doing it. Most looked like Quilcene residents who probably could use having some salmon in the freezer and fill it relatively cheaply. I don't buy the argument that it's cheaper to buy it than catch it. That's assuming you live in Seattle or Everett.

Anyway, the Quilcene only uses like 800 fish and the rest of the 15,000 returners go to food banks, go to Tribes, etc. Seems like they could easily spread the wealth and let everyone show up, hand them a dip net and say, dip 2 fish and take them home. Now that would be cheaper, less impacting on the threatened chum that are in there with the coho, and more equitable. After all, the hatchery operates with everyone's tax dollars. Not just the Tribes and foodbanks would share the wealth.

Short of that, I think the Quilcene hatchery seriously needs to close or reduce production.