JoseCuervo
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Opinion - Rewind: Editorials from our archives - 1971: Coho future bright
Monday, May 24, 2004
Columbian editorial writers
Things are definitely looking up in one phase of the Northwest food-sports fishery, the state Department of Fisheries reports. Runs of coho (silver salmon) it described as "tremendous" have been experienced this year in Puget Sound, Grays Harbor, Willapa Harbor and the Columbia River.
It's a bright spot in a long battle to save the salmon runs which has faced major obstacles in water pollution and river damming with both the physical obstacles and the added threat in some cases of nitrogen "poisoning."
As a matter of fact, coho are coming out of a lot of ears, say the state officials. More fish are returning to hatcheries than can be used for spawning purposes creating some difficulties. The commercial fisheries cold storage facilities are filling up and abundance of supply is affecting prices.
Maybe regulations could have been changed to encourage a greater "take" to sportsmen. However, fish are unpredictable and the dimensions of this year's runs could not be measured in advance.
But the department is optimistic. It thinks it's going to have more coho in the future, and has so advised the commercial fishery.
If so, it will be a significant victory in the battle to undo some of the damage man has done to his environment and its creatures. Maybe the coho isn't as prized as the king or chinook salmon, but a lot of people think it's fun to catch and good to eat. And the department has the right attitude.
"We just don't believe there can be too many salmon," it states. "There is always a desire by sports fishermen to catch them, and there is always a market for them, even thought the price fluctuates."
Columbian editorial
Oct. 7, 1971
Update: Today Coho are a threatened species.
