Boy, interesting thoughts!

I really have mixed emotions and try to live by common sense but this is thought provoking.

My absolute favorite fishery is summer steelhead fishing; has been for my 20 odd years in the sport and probably will be until I croak. So, to just say I can live without them because they are economically innefficient is hard if not impossible....selfish I guess. But on the other hand, there's a side of me that says if there is a more economic, biologically sound way to get returns, then, by all means, do it!

One approach I would like to see WDFW take is more experimentation with non-pond/natural conditions raising of fish; something that more closely mimics nature in the raising of fish. Has to be a better way than a concrete pond (a century of failure proves that) Doesn't it make sense to put the money out in the short term to upgrade and aggressively research better hatchery techniques for long term benefits of increased smolt-to-adult survival (thus, lower costs?) We can't really expect native broodstock programs like the Snyder creek project on the Sol Duc because most of our summer-run fisheries are from introduced Skamania stocks so a new hatchery approach seems more logical. I'm rambling about summer-runs but the concepts cover all our hatchery fish.

And, finally, Here is a thought I introduced on the board about a year ago:

Raising fish takes money. I'm not convinced we sportfishers are getting any sympathy from our legislature because they are tightening the noose on the dept. more and more annually. Why can't this state create a small sales tax on the sale of fishing gear that goes directly into hatchery funding and nothing else? This could include research into better techniques. I propose a 1$ fee each time you buy tackle/bait. Imagine the revnue that could be generated! Millions!Seems a pretty samll price to pay to have our funding blues cured for the forseeable future....I'd pay it without blinking. I threw this out to my local reps., the commission and a few others and got the usual no reply or "thanks, we'll consider it"

Food for thought.



[This message has been edited by EricW (edited 06-29-2000).]