You may be correct in some instances. There are cretins around, irrespective of nationality, lineage, or color. I've encountered and observed my share of human-being trash when out on the river, and unfortunately the returning salmonids seems to bring out the best (worst). However, I have witnessed numerous abuses by Indians of certain privileges they (specific to Indian) are now afforded. I've seen many salmonids harvested and wasted, just tossed out on the shore to rot after their eggs were removed, similarly to what Willy described. Anyone other than Indians committing this act would be substantially fined and/or jailed. I believe it's termed 'wanton waste'. I've seen Indian nets stretched all the way across the river, so no salmonids can get past. I'm quite confident that's illegal, as well. These acts would also 'net' (pun intended) substantial punishment to any other than Indians who committed the act.
Do all Indians do this? I don't believe so, and I hope not. I'm sure Indians who don't abuse some of their privileges right now are embarrassed by those that do. Often it is the acts of the few that sully the perception of the many. Hell, I'm embarrassed when any fisherperson, irrespective of color or creed, abuses the resource. But, there does seem to be a substantial double-standard right now in enforcing certain game rules, and it's just easier to 'look the other way.' Willy just reported a circumstance, an 'is'. I don't think he intended to use a broad brush in his reporting. Richard P.S. the aforementioned comes from someone with a sustantial Indian lineage. ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Snedeker" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, October 22, 2001 5:23 PM Subject: Re: It'll make your blood boil part II, WDFW Possible Steelhead Opportunity in Chelan and Douglas counties > Over the years Ive found that the factual content of "the Indians did a bad > thing" stories changes when I check them out. The thing that doesn't change > is the willingness to blame the Indians and the State for all that goes > wrong on the water. Problem is that Ive seen with my own eyes fishermen > ignoring the law, and trashing the rivers. > > Guess the Indians must have made them do it. > > Dave > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Willy Gevers <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]' <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: Monday, October 22, 2001 10:23 AM > Subject: RE: It'll make your blood boil part II, WDFW Possible Steelhead > Opportunity in Chelan and Douglas counties > > > > A friend just bought a very nice home this spring on the salt, in large > >part for the fishing and recreational opportunities. When the silver run > >started this fall, he was delighted to find that the oyster beds in front > of > >his home were prime feeding spots for both the resident and migratory > cohos, > >and he began catching (and releasing) fish regularly. > > > >Not long thereafter, the local indian tribe showed up and began netting. > >When they saw him fishing, they would run their outboards to the edge of > his > >property, often tieing off on his property, and then run a gillnet or purse > >seine in a large sweep to the far end of his beach. > > > >After netting the fish, they stripped the eggs and threw the carcasses back > >- often leaving them in piles on the beach. The piles of dead salmon bodies > >included native (non-fin clipped)silvers and blackmouth - both illegal to > >take under WA state regulations. > > > >When he called the local WDFW office to report what he had seen, the reply > >was something like this; 1. we don't care, the hatchery quota for eggs has > >been met so let the indians have them, and, 2. Why are you complaining, > >there are plenty of fish to catch this year, and you shouldn't have bought > >that property. > > > >> From: Rob Blomquist [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > >> Sent: Friday, October 19, 2001 2:00 PM > >> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >> Subject: Re: Possible Steelhead Opportunity in Chelan and Douglas > >> counties > >> > >> On Friday 19 October 2001 09:37 am, Don Shearer rambled unforgivingly: > >> > Hi, > >> > > >> > A quick question regarding this story. Why do they have a hatchery to > >> > begin with? If there is a fear they will breed with "wild" fish and > >they > >> > do not let anglers fish for the hatchery fish why have a hatchery? > >> > >> Hatchery production has shifted in the last few years to many hatcheries > >> doing wild fish enhancement. They will take selected wild stock, > >> artifically fertilize and raise them, then return them to the river that > >> they originated from in order to help boost wild populations. > >> > >> But currently the runs contain hatchery fish from the previous era, which > >> are > >> genetically and physically inferior to the wild fish. Fishing for the > >> hatchery fish is a way of removing them from the gene pool, so that the > >> wild fish genes are not weaked by these seriously inbred mutants from > >hell. > >> > >> Rob > >> -- > >> Rob Blomquist > >> Kirkland, WA > > > > > > > > > >
