You are mixing apples and oranges in the argument. I didn't say the numbers were accurate, I said they were the best they could do at counting.

Years ago they put predator netting over a hatchery pond. Actually, this happened at many sites with similar results. Anyway, they stocked the pond with the normal number of coho. Then, sometime later in the rearing cycle they had a big die off. Why? Exceeded the pond's capacity because predation had been removing so many that it stayed at proper loading levels. At the time, the technology was fish in minus morts out left the number released. The predation loss was rather unseen; I think it was rats actually. Point being that assumptions get made and unless a new technology is installed you may be making a mistake. Lie? No. Purposefully inflated? No. Poor job of monitoring the fish. Yes.