I saw on TV a hatchery that was getting their brood stock from the river system. They were useing Large Coolers with airiators in them to transport the fish. The fish take a terrible abuse on the end of a tether floating down the river. Any plans for the cooler system for the snyder hatchery?

A system as such would be nice, bit since there isn't just one or two boats tethering, we'd need a number of them, and that takes a lot of money ... we have very limited funds from our own pockets, a grant from the city of Forks, Rayonier Timber, and a few state dollars ... don't see much from any other associations that fish out here (hint). Overall, it doesn't really seem to be too bad on the fish if caution is used (no anchoring afterward in fast water, guide fish downstream through the rock gardens). Unfortunately, the fish that are spawned do die ... so, we do only need a long enough survival to spawn them. The mortality is a little higher than we like, but then again, it's better than going off in a fishbox to be weighed in a club's derby!

Guys from the club do like to help with the tethering when they know its going on. If the club had deeper pockets we could help, but it is run on such a slim budget it barely makes it year to year.

Any idea how much these coolers would run? Maybe we could raise funds to get them for the hatchery (Bake sale..hehe). Then fishermen would just check them out when they were going to fish. If it would help the mortality rate getting them down river it would be worth it.

PS.. I would rather put them in the hatchery program when possible.