Os,

Perception equals reality, or so I’ve heard. And some, including the Quinault, perceive things differently than you. Why is your perception right and theirs wrong?

Are you opposed to wild fish being killed when the population is deemed healthy enough to sustain the catch? I don’t like to see wild salmon or steelhead harvested if their populations cannot sustain, or only marginally support, a harvest. But tribal fishery managers probably see the steelhead population as being healthier than you or I do. Given that information and support (a legal fishery opening), the treaty fisherman is just doing his job and trying to catch fish. Pretty straight forward.

And there exist cultural differences. I’ve known Indian fishermen who think it makes perfect sense to fish for food or commercially to sell fish, and that it is senseless to fish for kicks like most recreational anglers do. And I’ve known some who enjoy sport fishing as well. But fishing is a traditional cultural activity for northwest Indians; that’s well established. So they fish the Chehalis for the same reason they fish the Humptulips, Queets, and Quinault; they are all rivers in their usual and accustomed fishing area as defined by the court. Why would they be interested in your perception of where they ought or ought not to fish? And they don’t want to change. Kinda’ like some white gillnetters, purse seiners, trollers I’ve met as well.

Since I don’t think I’m easily going to change how you think, I would predict no easier task in changing how a treaty Indian fisherman thinks. I don’t expect treaty fishermen to change until it is in their interest, and they believe it is in their interest, to do so. You want them to change? Offer a better alternative.

Work towards making the fish marketplace unattractive for steelhead, especially wild ones. Next comes the more difficult coordination and logistical effort. I’ll keep pushing this idea because I think it has long term potential. Collectively, through the state perhaps, we will eventually offer to buy a tribe’s projected catch and pay them to leave the steelhead in the river. As a nation we have subsidies that are crazier than that. I feel we should encourage tribes to exercise their treaty rights and take what they need for ceremonial and subsistence use. But they will eventually be able to earn more by leaving the commercial portion of the steelhead catch in the rivers and selling them to the recreational fishery. Low prices in the marketplace due to farmed fish and low public acceptance of wild steelhead harvest can help bring this about.

In the long run, it’s about satisfying interests. Yours, mine, theirs.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

I went by the College st Market and inquired about the wild steelhead. The young man working behind the counter showed me some monsters that he just filleted. When asked where they came from his eyes got big and he said he wasn't sure. Then my 10 yr old son said something about the cowlitz and the counter boy mentioned that he and his family fishes the zoo at Blue Crk.

I am sure the kid knows that selling wild fish is not a popular thing amongst fishermen, and that is why he got antsy when I asked about them.

I am all for working with ya' all on a picket.
READ! A responsible, organized picket with releases sent to radio, print, and tv media.

I have a background in promoting, (musicians, benefits) and I know some of the ins and outs of PR.

I believe that if it is to be done, it should be done quickly (within a few weeks) and am willing to meet with anyone anyday of the week in Thurston County.

I think at least 3-4 people (more/merrier) should have at least one meeting to brainstorm and prepare info so we can pass it on to others in a fast and direct manner.

Obvioulsy this would not be a P.P. board action, but a concerned citizens action including anyone who wants to attend and will perform in a respectable manner.

To further the cause, maybe we could come up with a "picket day". A day that others could picket their local market/store/tribe that sells wild steelhead or salmon.

What would I hope to accomplish?
Positive info about the indiscriminate killing and damage that nets do. Bring awareness to the public about our declining stocks and ask the general public to purchase farmed fish (eeeww).

riverswild@hotmail.com

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"Just Say No To Sovereign Nations!"

Monies are not distributed evenly within the tribes. So even if you made the marketplace unattractive. That is both local, and foreign markets. And the tribes finally agreed to sell their rights to steelhead. You would have members of the tribe who are not seeing any of this, pay-off, and would continue to harvest fish beyond what they need, to try to make a profit.(road side sales) The whole thing would go back to enforcement and reporting numbers.
I am still surprised that there is no place to get the numbers, of what amount of steelhead are being sold, by each tribe, from what river system. I feel the fishbuyers should provide this information or require it at time of sale. This information should be made publicly available, if the tribes are doing nothing wrong, this shouldn't be a problem. (I am talking honest numbers. X amount of money for X lbs of steelhead. This percentage was wild.)
If you guys organize a protest, that would be great, but I feel there is nothing that will ever be done. A few more years like this years overharvest and I think it will be time to start working on my golf swing, and dust off my snowboard, cause....We lost.

KORE "WE LOST" SPEAK FOR YOURSELF OK? I STILL HAVE HOPE AND IAM BRAINSTORMING EVERY DAY AND I WILL NOT GIVE UP! I SUGGEST YOU DONT EITHER...PEACE OUT

As far as any print in any of the papers on indian issue's that would be a negative it just will not happen their policy is none bias. For years of seeing things done even illegally delivering pictures of these instances I have been told sorry our policy is don't get involved makes you wonder why!!!