This is too cool. All this open and flowing communication.
Longreleaser, I agree that we paid for and continue to pay for these hatcheries. They are a mitigation issue that for the most part keeps the tribes off the water during the chinook and coho migrations. The Tulalips harvest kings and coho in Tulalip Bay, The Stilly tribe harvest kings in the upper stilly to avoid the wild fish. As I said earlier, the tribes are an easy target for us because the nets are easy to see. What we don't see is what goes on behind the scenes. I also said that they have their problem children just like we do. Lets quit *****ing about the tribes and get our own house in order first. Then we have the moral/ethical/legal highground to stand on. Lets also open discussion with the tribes and attempt to work with instead of against them. It will only work in our interests.
Just my thoughts.

Tight lines,
chumkiller

Snapper,

Almost all tribal hatcheries in WA state are funded with federal money through the Department of Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs budget for treaty tribes under the line item: Rights Protection Program. Then there are the Makah National Fish Hatchery and the Quinault National Fish Hatchery that are funded through the Department of Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fish hatchery budget. The Yakama Nation built and operates its new salmon restoration hatchery at Cle Elum with BPA's Fish and Wildlife Program funds that come from the federal budget, but could be construed as coming indirectly from NW regional electric ratepayers that purchase BPA energy. And then, there is, perhaps most notably, the Muckleshoot Tribal hatchery on the White River that I am told is funded by casino revenue. It was constructed by Puget Sound Energy, and Puget funded operations for several years until sometime in 1998 when their FERC license allowed them to discontinue the hatchery funding.

If there is any tribally constructed and operated hatchery in the NW that is funded by tribally generated funds, that haven't passed through the federal government or a mitigation vehicle such as BPA, I haven't heard of it. But I probably don't know about them all, so maybe there is.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

Work with the tribe? Really think it will work? I believe its worth a shot, how you plan to hook your organization with the tribe? What group do you belong to? What do you hope to achieve, any expectations? JCB

salmo g

I'm not really used to communicating with smart people. If it weren't for Bob's site I probably wouldn't even turn on my computer. Could you humor me and take a look at neo-tech.com? I stumbled across their publications about ten years ago and have been amazed by their growth. They are extreme and do not have anything to do with fishing directly but they do have some very interesting points on individuals and govt....anyways, if you ever read anything by Ayn Rand or Julian Jaynes you might find this site interesting.

Chumkiller
Do you or the task force you mention have a web site?

I would kind of like to know this also. I have my suspicions that its probaly the majority of tribal hatcheries that are funded by federal dollars, but i don't know for sure. I hear every body talking about getting involved, and that's a very warm and fuzzy concept, but I just have one question.What in the hell are we paying these outrageous liscense and usage fees for?! Isn't that money supposed to go back into the program, or are we just paying our hard earned money for the priveldge of getting to wet a line? I understand the whole thing of habitat restoration and privately funded hatcheries, but isn't that what our licsencing money is suposed to do? As for the individual who refered to the fishing publics' "Thinly vieled racsism" My frustration with tribal fishermen has nothing to do with racism. I just get aggrevated that the tribes preach about "heritage, tradition, and how the tribes have always historically been the true stewards of the environment, yet they would rather decimate aqn entire river in the name of thier "right to harvest" than to have to cut back and go without like the rest of us.