And if you are a FISHERMAN, we need the band aid! We will never, as Preston
has mentioned, return to a westcoast that is lightly populated. Summer-run
steelhead, which was an incredible fishery that has been HATCHERY
established, has never had any viable run of native fish. Those interested
in shutting down fishing, have found small nitches of wild fish that have
enabled those with that agenda, to shut down, or reduce to a pittance, a
sport fishery. There use to be lots of anglers pursuing hatchery,
summer-run steelhead on those systems that Preston mentioned...now look at
it...it will never return to a viable fishery. The most comprehensive,
statewide study indicated that there is very little effect on wild fish
reproduction as a result of hatchery production. The only possibility of
genetic integrity interference was on a small stream such as the Elochamen,
where hatchery plants were large and the stream very small. Here in Idaho,
where I have re-located, the same, kick'em off the water guys are using the
same agenda to try and shut down our exceptional fishery here on the South
Fork and other waters. The pure strain of native, Yellowstone cutthroat,
has had a tough time remaining genetically pure and cope with 2001
conditions. He is easy to catch, much more so than the rainbow and brown
trout. I have listened to flies that work on the MF of the Snoqualmie.
Most of those fish are cutthroat and if your dead drift doesn't work, strip
it under and make it blurp, you'll catch any fish close...they are very
susceptible to color and movement. The State of Idaho has put a generous
limit on rainbows and the fly shops encourage you to kill any cuttbow, or
rainbow on the South Fork, why?? To keep the shut-it-down guys from
applying, under the Endangered Species act, from shutting down the South
Fork!! One of the best fisheries in all the lower 48 states!! The flyshops
have told me that the kill will not effect the fish population, but it will
keep those at bay who want to shutdown fishing!! They have applied, to the
Fed. gov't once, and were rejected, but will be back again trying to shut it
down. Flyfisher persons accept triploid trout, re-stocking of their
"quality waters" why do they support efforts to shutdown salmon and
steelhead fishing, tear out dams, yet make no waves when it comes to
commercial decimation of fish runs? I don't get that one.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Don Johnson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 07, 2001 11:25 AM
Subject: Re: hatchery reform
> --- Preston Singletary <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > I think that salmon and steelhead hatcheries must
> > remain an integral part of
> > any salmonid management program for many years to
> > come.....
>
> > I am certainly
> > no advocate of hatcheries...
>
> Huh? Which is it?
>
> Until we address the degradation of salmon and
> steelhead (as well as other species') habitat as well
> as develop viable solutions to alleviate or limit
> pressures exerted by commercial operations, hatcheries
> are only going to be the proverbial "band-aid".
>
> Don Johnson
>
> =====
>
>
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