I have learned a lot about unfair Indian netting & other abuses in your region in a short time from this BB. It is disturbing to say the least. I know, like any group of people, that there are those that are abusive of rights & the resorces; & there are those that behave ethically among Indian & all groups. However, I see credence in the tales of abusive overharvest by many of the Oly. Penn Indians, in that I have seen for myself, as well as heard from reliable sources, of the same type of abusive overharvest cheating on the Columbia R. by many of the Treaty Tribe members in our region. Local sportfishing groups such as ANWS & NSIA have done much to reduce these abuses in our area. - A few Q's & suggestions: How do the Oly. Penn Indians escape the Federal Endangered Species Act? This is a very powerful peice of national legislation that has stopped the strong timber lobbyists in their tracks over the Spotted Owl. It has turned the Columbia R. sport & net fisheries (including Columbia region Indian tribes) upside down with restrictions & closures. Why not up there?? - What if anything has been done lately in attempt to overturn the infamous Judge Boldt decision alotting 50% of harvestable fish to these Indians (based on rediculously outdated principals)?- Read the Buzz Ramsey article in the Feb./Mar. issue of Salmon Trout Steelheader magazine- "How Politics Affect Your Fishing and My Job", page 24. It explains how affective the Norhtwest Sportfishing Industry Association (NSIA) has become in protecting sportsfishermen's rights. They have almost single handedly kept the Gov. from futher Columbia R. sportfishing closures. The NSIA in combination with an organized NW Wash. sportfishing alliance could be a powerful combined force to persuade state politicians to enact legislation to overturn the Boldt decision (call them at 503-631-8859 for help). Sportfishing lawyers could help out (any of them into pro-bono for the cause?) by enacting a sportfishermen,s class action suit against at least the abuses mentioned on this board by creating a combo Government/citizen watchdog group to oversee Indian netting & selling activity- & perhaps contribute to new challenges to the Boldt decision also. BUT, this will take a lot of effort by a lot of influential sportfishermen from your region in an ORGANIZED ASSOCIATION format to get results ( made up from such as guides associations, Assoc. of NW Steelheaders, &... ALL OF YOU).- Bob, or everyone on here, could printout copies of the most meaningful posts off this bulletin board, concerning this subject, to send to state legislators, the proper politicions, & newspaper columnists to stimulate positive action. Use camcorders, long range camera lenses, & affidavits of evidence of abuses! Many of you have complained. If this were happening in my water I wouldn't just complain- I would fight tooth & nail for proper rights for all sportfishing & against special group abuses!!! Get off your butts & get after it! - Steve Hanson

[This message has been edited by Backbouncer1 (edited 03-07-2000).]