I enjoy fly fishing for the resident silvers in the South Puget Sound saltchuck. There is a possibility that this fisheries will decline even further along with the blackmouth fisheries. Due to budget cuts, the Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife is considering discontinuing the salmon net program in Hale Passage near Tacoma. It started in 1973 and annually releases 250,000 blackmouth fry(6-8") and 60,000 silvers(50,000 1/4 pounders and 10,000 1 to 1 1/2 pounders). The good news is that the joint Dept. of F&W and Squaxin Native American net pen program(1.8 million coho 6-8" fry) adjacent to Squaxin Island would not be affected and is solid into the future.

Dennis Popchock(sp?) who runs the the Hale Passage pens said that that sports fishermen need to write or contact their representatives in the State legislature to voice their concerns. Also, send a copy of the letters to Jeff Koening, Director of F&W and Paul Seidel, Net Pen Program Manager. Dennis said that the Lakewood hatchery was closed down by the Dept. because the public did not voice their concerns.

[This message has been edited by r.stephens (edited 02-08-2001).]

[This message has been edited by r.stephens (edited 02-08-2001).]