SENATE RESOLUTION

                         1995-8622

By Senators Kohl,  Heavey, Snyder and Spanel

     WHEREAS, The Washington State commercial fishing fleet leaves on March 15th and the Blessing of the Fleet will occur at Fisherman's Terminal in Ballard this Sunday; and

     WHEREAS, The commercial crab industry alone employs four hundred ninety-eight fishing vessels in the Puget Sound and coastal fleets; and

     WHEREAS, The commercial crab fishery indirectly employs more than two thousand seven hundred people; and

     WHEREAS, The current harvest of fifteen million pounds annually generates $33.7 million this year alone direct economic contribution; and

     WHEREAS, The life of a crab fisher is one fraught with danger and hardship that most of us will never face; and

     WHEREAS, Strength and courage are basic requirements for anyone who chooses to work on the high seas, battling the elements in order to harvest the nature's bounty; and

     WHEREAS, The men and women who work on boats, living between God and the sea, and never certain which will claim them first, deserve our admiration, our thanks, and, when tragedy strikes, our remembrance; and

     WHEREAS, Jim Foster, Larry Johnston, Bruce Forde, Rob Olson, Troy Collins, and Bob Petersen were all claimed too early in life, and their deaths have rent again the tightly knit fabric that is the community of fishing families in our region;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate extends its condolences to the families and friends of all our fishermen and women who have lost their lives at sea, including most recently those of Jim Foster, Larry Johnston, Bruce Forde, Rob Olson, Troy Collins, and Bob Petersen; and wishes the entire commercial fishing fleet a safe and prosperous season.

I, Marty Brown, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 1995-8622,

adopted by the Senate February 24, 1995.

MARTY BROWN

Secretary of the Senate