Dave Olerud is quoted in the Nov. 15 CVN saying that hatchery chum runs are impacting the natural stocks. I agree. We may not fully understand the carrying capacity of our oceans, but clearly there is competition between wild and hatchery chums. Hatchery salmon are more aggressive, more tolerant of crowding, and more likely to carry and spread disease.

Artificial spawning channels are no solution either. They may create good spawning conditions and at first glance appear successful with zillions of fish stacked on top of each other trying to spawn. Unfortunately, this is “over-escapement.” Only so many fish can spawn in a given square foot of gravel; the others sow their seed in vain.

Walking several miles of Chilkat River bank one rare year of high wild chum returns, I was astounded to see the vast numbers of fish. Elbow to elbow, crowded, but not stacked on top of each other as in the spawning channels. Plenty of room, no “over-escapement.”

I can understand the financial difficulties of refocusing on wild fish that would be imposed on commercial fishermen and other businesses that depend financially on “enhanced fish.” There has been considerable investment in nets, equipment, hatcheries, net pen releases spawning channels, etc. But in the long run, both business and environment will benefit by recovering what has been here all along—abundant wild stock salmon.

Eric Holle

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