The bar chart prepared by Mr. Childers and included in his presentation to the Commission on 11 March included little or none of that early period but did include a year or two of the lower annual catch and then reflected the substantial increases beginning in mid 90s.

I know that in area 2E the WDFW had to issue an emergency closure in December or early January 2010 because the commercials had exceeded their allocation. If my memory is correct that overrun was in the neighborhood of 15-20 thousand pounds and certainly contributed to the 300,000# aggregate commercial overrun you have set forth.

Again, the annual commercial license fees going to WDFW is around $63,000 and the excise tax (based on 2,700,00# and a per pound price of $2.19 was about $133,000 for a combined payment of about $196,000. Divide that by the target of 2,700,000 pounds and the contribution is just over $.07 (seven cents) per pound.

Compare that to 236,665 shellfish/P.S. endorsements at $14.50 (that is price less dealer fee) and it is $3,431,642. Of course not all endorsements are full price (kids, seniors) and not all are full season but some are for out of state and are more than the $14.50 so for sake of argument use the $3,431,642 figure. Divide that by the 2005-2009 average annual recreational catch of 1,276,800 pounds and the per pound contribution is $2.69. While those numbers may not be exact they certainly point out the huge disparity in "value" just in terms of license and taxes between the commercial and recreational sectors.

Hence my having included in my comments that ensuring a strong, continuing recreational fishery is right economically for both the WDFW and the State.