The problem with the Columbia river fisheries

"Terry Lomax" wrote in message
oups.com...

hugh80 wrote:
From The Land of the One-Eyed Jacks


We could not have done more to destroy the Salmon if we had declared
salmon to be an enemy of mankind. Help me list the ways we have harmed
the various salmon runs in Oregon & Washington.

1) Dams
2) Pollution
3) Drought and water theft
4) Overfishing

I seriously doubt many of the claims made in the original post on the
thread. Typical of salmonoid snobs to libel other species of wildlife.

One of the main things I doubt is the claims of Pikeminnow being
overpopulated and decimating Salmon populations. Give a scientific
name of this alleged minnow species that plagues the Columbia basin.
My guess is the native Minnows of the Columbia basin are different
species from the large Pikeminnows of the Colorado basin, and that
native Minnows are threatened.

Another big doubt is the claims of Lampreys and each Lamprey killing
hundreds of other fish. Cite any article that says the Lampreys in the
Columbia basin are the same invasive Sea Lampreys that European ships
let into the Great Lakes. From what I've heard, native Pacific Coast
Lamprey species are threatened.

Can ANYONE honestly say they ever saw a West Coast Salmon with a
Lamprey attached?


Doubt the Lamprey, but the Pike Minnow is a large voracious fish. 12-18"
and they are thick below the dams, feeding on the smolts.