I would be willing to bet the numbers for the 1997 by-catch are very low and probably would double if they had all the correct numbers for the Point Roberts area alone. The commercial guys desimated the kings there in 1997 while fishing for sockeye. From what I heard they had more kings than sockeye. That is probably why they were not allowed to fish close in for the 1998 season. The only comment I heard was, they're Canadian fish, HEH! what difference does it make. Well as you can see now, a LOT. Abuse by a few fishers makes it really tough on everyone else. The attitude of having to catch the last fish going up river has got to change before we really see a difference.
Everyone is complaining about no fish in the Samish, go out into the channel and look at the nets strung on poles in the channel and you'd know why there are not any fish in the river. They cannot swim through MONO.

[This message has been edited by scotty (edited 08-30-1999).]