SENATE RESOLUTION

                         1998-8730

By Senators Kohl, Spanel, Jacobsen, Fraser, Bauer, Johnson, Thibaudeau, Haugen, Hargrove, T. Sheldon, Anderson, B. Sheldon, Snyder and Rasmussen

     WHEREAS, The Washington State commercial fishing fleet begins leaving in March and the 70th annual Blessing of the Fleet will occur at Fisherman's Terminal in Seattle on Sunday, March 15th; and

     WHEREAS, The Washington State commercial fishing fleet is one of the world=s largest distant water fleets and is of major importance to our state; and

     WHEREAS, Examples of the many important fleets operating out of the state include  the salmon fleet which began in territorial Washington in the 1860s and the halibut fleet which has been in existence since 1888; and

     WHEREAS, The commercial fishing industry directly and indirectly employs thousands of people; and

     WHEREAS, The harvest annually generates millions of dollars each year in direct economic contribution and billions in indirect economic contribution; and

     WHEREAS, The life of a 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, In 1997 Washington State lost Jackson Frasier, James Kennedy, Stanley Erickson, Larry Older, Curtis Miller, Stephen Brooks, John Ferry, Marilyn Tarabochia and Ronald Tarabochia, who 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 Jackson Frasier, James Kennedy, Stanley Erickson, Larry Older, Curtis Miller, Stephen Brooks, John Ferry, Marilyn Tarabochia and Ronald Tarabochia; and wishes the entire commercial fishing fleet a safe and prosperous season.

I, Mike O=Connell, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 1998-8730,

adopted by the Senate March 12, 1998.

MIKE O=CONNELL

Secretary of the Senate