Preston, if the hatchery fish spawn poorly, and unsuccessfully breed with
the wild fish (maybe timing of when they show up in the river is a factor?),
then why not have hatchery fish?
-----Original Message-----
From: Preston Singletary <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Washington Fly fishers <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Wednesday, November 01, 2000 5:10 PM
Subject: Native vs Hatchery Fish
>There was an article in Salmon Trout Steelheader a couple of years ago
about
>a study of several races of steelhead, utilizing electrophoretic
techniques,
>indicating that the genetic makeup of wild native fish in Washington is
>remarkably intact. This is due largely to the very poor spawning success
>of hatchery fish. Hatchery x hatchery and hatchery x wild crosses rarely
>result in viable offspring; one more argument in favor of restricting
>hatchery porduction programs, and one more argument for catch-and-release
of
>wild fish.
>
