Carol W
2011-03-03 15:22:45
Some vandals broke into the small hatchery in Port St Nichols (south of Craig) and shut off a valve killing all the baby King Salmon. Just makes a guy shake his head.
MattP
2011-03-03 16:31:48
What an unbelievably hateful and stupid action. It's really hard for me to understand what would possibly motivate someone to do that. Hopefully they get what they have coming to them.
Wonder what effect losing an entire year-class will have on the program there?
Carol W
2011-03-03 16:36:05
I have a SSRAA meetging next week and plan on putting a motion on the floor for SSRAA to donate another 500,000 smolts to PT St Nic.
MattP
2011-03-03 16:44:58
Well that's good to hear. Best of luck. How does that compare to the number of smolts that they lost?
Abundance
2011-03-04 20:26:14
I live less than a mile from that hatchery. Its been a huge boost to our winter king catches, and lots of fun for all when they come back to our bay in the spring. I hope that things get sorted out. What a waste. it sounds like somebody knew what they were doing, not just at random. Perhaps a disgruntled employee? I doubt that there is anything that I can think of that the Troopers haven't. This is a blow to our whole community.
On the side, this is my first post. I have followed the great discussions on here for some time, and I think that this is one of the best products of the modern age a troller can have. A 24/7 coffee house where we can work out our differences, share each others joys and losses and knowledge, and meet people we never would otherwise. Enjoy the weather! Its a blizzard here in Craig. Time to tuck in and read a book.
yak2you2
2011-03-05 04:12:01
If they catch whom ever did it, I hope they assess the damages at what those fish could have been worth as returning adults. They deserve the maximum punishment for a such a callous and cowardly act. As stated in the prior post, it does sound like an inside job by somebody who knew what they were doing.
I don't know much about how hatcheries operate but I've got a few questions that jump right out at me. First, why have a valve? In light of the accidental killing I read about last summer, it seems to risky to me. would it be possible to just plumb direct? Next thought, eliminating the valve might avoid an accident, but this last episode surely was not an accident, and if someone has that big of a bone to pick, you have to assume they'll find a way. In either case, with as much as there is at stake, why is there no type of alarm system on the tanks? I'm thinking about an O2 sensor, temp sensor, and a low water alarm, patched into an auto dialer, that will call somebody if things drop below a certain level. Last but not least, take a Q from the banks, nobody likes to be on camera when their committing a felony, or get a Dobermann.
fvsedna
2011-03-05 22:03:23
What a crummy deal...hopefully they can be replaced.
Abundance....my very best friends live out Port St. Nick..@ 3.2 mile they were sure anxious for the return of kings to the bay..kept my boat there myself the last two winters(2009,2010) In South cove.Speaking of books just happen to be half way through "Angels to Ashes"...the story of the Investor murders as told by the author..welcome aboard....I'm new here myself
Abundance
2011-03-06 06:54:03
Ah, yes I remember you, Mr. Sedna. Can't say that I remember your name, but I remember you and and the boat. My father and I had, and still have, the two grey and blue trollers down at the end of the finger. He has the Colette, and I still have the Betty H. I just aquired the Abundance this year, and am in the middle of jumping boats. Still a few months worth of work left though!
I live out at 4.5 mile, and I hear that they had a smash of kings returning last spring to the bay, sport fishing. No commercial allowed yet. I was in Wrangel at that time, so I can't say firsthand. I do know what few kings that I can pick up look to be hatchery, and I am hearing the same from much better fishermen. I don't know what we would be doing without them.
I've heard about "Angels to Ashes", but haven't gotten to it yet. I did just read "Alaskan Troller", by Ron Merrit, on the Hardtack. I thought it was excellent. I've been skimming "Water of Life-Alaska to New Zealand" by Lorrie Haight, about back when they had the Akvavit, but I haven't settled down to it yet. Having just aquired a deep ocean saiboat myself, I'm going to read it close. I also enjoyed Francis Caldwells "Pacific Troller", and especially recommend Ballard Hadman's "As the Sailor Loves the Sea", about Craig in the thirties and forties. There are others that you probably know better than me. A guy gets a lot of reading done this time year. Its good for us all.
Now where was I? Oh yes. I have no experience with hatchery operations either Mr. Yak. I do however, have experience with brilliant hindsight. I think alarms and safeties might be part of the future. They had better be. A years worth of fish is an extremely valuable thing to leave unattended.
Abundance
2011-03-06 23:40:32
It seems, like it often goes, that we don't have all of the facts. I talked to a certain city employee today, and while he wasn't allowed to go into details, they do have surveillance camera photos. And there were several locked gates that were unlocked. He let me know that the news stories were not accurate. He wasn't comfortable telling me more, but his attitude was that I shouldn't be repeating the story until the facts are made public. I guess that that he has a good point. It shouldn't be long before we know what went on.
Its a beautiful day today. The thermometer is saying sixty, the sun is bright and the winds are mild. I just might try to catch a fish tomorrow.