GBL,

I'm trying very hard to not miss your point, if you have a point beyond emotional ranting. I kid you not.

"hundreds of tribulations" Really? Please list them. I'm pretty good at following this and will review each and every one.

Yes, I know very well, and have written repeatedly that the job of commercial fishermen is to harvest fish, not conserve them. Conservation is the job of management, which BTW, the state and feds have been less than half-assed if one examines the track record.

At least we agree that it is important to get to the source, or root cause, of the problem on the Stilly. And while commercial fishing causes problems, it isn't the root cause of the declining Stilly chinook run. If you can figure out how to stop the CA interceptions of WA salmon, I'll nominate you for conservationist of the year, no make that decade, award.

Our country weighs multiple interests in negotiations with other countries. Salmon are not the highest priority. Biased as I am, I might wish it otherwise, but I know it's not realistic. If you travel internationally on business, you probably know that even better than I.

BTW, I haven't been a biologist for the state in decades, but I have worked for WA, OR, tribal orgs, and fed agencies. I think the diversity has allowed me a fairly broad perspective.

Again we agree on identifying all the problems and solutions. You might agree that some solutions are more doable than others?

I don't want to get rid of commercial fishing any more than I want to get rid of recreational or treaty fishing. I only oppose fishing that doesn't make ecological, biological, economic, or social sense, so yes, some commercial fisheries I'd close in a heartbeat. Just make me King and consider it done. BTW, I don't disagree with your allocation priorities, but you should know that they are at odds with state law. At law conservation and harvest are given equal weight. What that means is, legislators are capable of talking out both sides of their mouth and passing laws intending the same.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.