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                                  ENGROSSED SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 101

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State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Senators Owen, Patterson, Stratton, Conner and Talmadge

Read first time 1/21/85 and referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

TO THE HONORABLE RONALD REAGAN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE SHULTZ, SECRETARY OF STATE, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AND TO THE HONORABLE BOOTH GARDNER, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

          We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

          WHEREAS, The salmon resources of the State of Washington are in a reduced and unstable condition due to many factors; and

          WHEREAS, The Canadian fisheries often harvest the majority of certain salmon stocks destined for Washington rivers; and

          WHEREAS, The Canadian fishery is currently the single largest adverse factor influencing the survival and conservation of salmon originating in Washington; and

          WHEREAS, The conservation and rational management of these salmon stocks is dependent upon mutually agreeable fisheries between the two countries; and

          WHEREAS, The catch-sharing of salmon destined for the Fraser river system between United States and Canadian fishermen has been unstable and the Canadian fishermen have most frequently caught the majority of fish; and

          WHEREAS, The benefits of increased salmon production through habitat restoration and hatcheries will not accrue to Washington state unless a treaty is achieved; and

          WHEREAS, Certain runs of salmon, principally Chinook (King) salmon, are dangerously overharvested and are facing extinction; and

          WHEREAS, Competitive and fragmentary management can only serve to erode the salmon resources of both countries; and

          WHEREAS, The Washington State Legislature recognizes the emergent nature of the salmon crisis and the need to work toward the development of a fair treaty;

          NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that:

          (1) The Governor of the State of Washington actively support the United States-Canada salmon treaty;

          (2) The Washington State Delegation to Congress support the treaty and utilize their influence to persuade the members of the United States Senate to ratify the treaty; and

          (3) Congress speedily enact legislation implementing the treaty which clearly defines steelhead trout as a separate species from the pacific salmon species.

          BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Ronald Reagan, President of the United States, the Honorable George Shultz, Secretary of State, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, each member of Congress from the State of Washington, and the Honorable Booth Gardner, Governor of the State of Washington.