We know that salmon (including steelhead)are intercepted before reaching freshwater streams. The result is harvesting of stocks that that shouldn't be taken. The fish run a gauntlet starting with the high seas fishery, then Alaskan, then Canadian, and then U.S. commercial fisheries. All of those are OCEAN and therefore INDISCRIMINANT commercial fisheries. What I'm getting at is not new. Wouldn't it be better if the stocks were taken commercially at their natal streams? Sure, it wouldn't be popular with a lot of financially/politically powerful commercial interests that fish in Ak., but you would probably have B.C. on your side. Also, quite a few Ak. commercial fishermen are from Wa. & Or., so you would have the most political pull dealing with them. Selective Fisheries: using fishwheels,fish traps,( or whatever would be the best way to release certain fish).......that would allow the DISCRIMINANT taking of fish in their natal streams (yeah, freshwater tributaries). So the comm. fishermen give up their boats......too bad!

[This message has been edited by AkBill (edited 03-13-99).]