GBL,

You're not the only person who claims that Indian nets are over-harvesting wild steelhead. However, no one seems to be able to produce the empirical evidence to make that case.

The tribes in question (Skagit & Snohomish Rivers) have few or no fishing days scheduled in March and April when wild steelhead are most abundant. Some test fishing and some general commercial fishing has occurred in some seasons on the Skagit, but there are no catch data available to me indicating that it adds up to over-harvest. I'm not certain at all about the Snohomish.

Are you saying you personally have seen "dozens of steelhead in dozens of nets" in either of those rivers when wild steelhead are present in significant numbers, in the Skagit and Snohomish, in which years, enough to amount to wiping out steelhead runs? If so, I'm asking you to substantiate it because your information, or opinion, runs counter to my sources of information on the Skagit, which come from both the treaty and non-treaty sides of the street. Further, how can the treaty Indian net fishery be wiping out the wild Skagit steelhead run if that run is continuing to return at or above the present minimum spawning escapement goal? Your allegations do not jive with the facts. So if the facts are wrong and you are right, it's incumbent upon you to provide evidence above and beyond your opinion to substantiate your views as the new facts. If you can't or won't do that, you may disagree with Todd, but you're in no position to dispute his assertions.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.