Having fished for most of my life, I share many of the frustrations in Aerofly's note ... the unfortunate thing is that we seem to looking over and over again for a solution to netting in rivers from an agency that has no jurisdiction. Netting in the rivers is a reality within our current legal system. If laws are being broken within that system (and evidence can be presented), Aerofly seems to have found someone willing to listen.
Please do not mistake my opinion ... the legal reality of Native American's netting in the rivers does not excuse gross mismanagement of native runs by the state or anyone else for that matter. Having been involved in volunteer work for some time with local government, it is a political reality that those with the best organizing and mobilization skills tend to shape the debate.
Several other threads on this board seem to be mobilizing such an organization. I applaude those that have stepped up with funding to support such an effort. Myself, I will donate where I can, but as I would imagine with most of us, cash is not our biggest asset in this fight (as individuals) ... our personal involvement is. Please donate where you can, what you can, whether it be money or time. Once a movement is funded, most ventures pass or fail by the determination of it's volunteers. If you care, I mean really care, get involved!
Lastly, I have one concern with Aerofly's post, and not one that is directly his problem but did prompt this reply. I do not believe that there is ever a justification of mess with another's private property, especially if that property is legally obtained and used for legal purposes. Destroying nets will not ingratiate this movement to the public at large. Public opinion is very critical in these types of debates and I guarantee that it will become absolutely critical with all the interests revolving around this issue. In addition, pubic opinion has a way of forcing behaviors that laws never will.
See you on the river.
-Dave
[This message has been edited by djstein (edited 11-18-2000).]