108 



^TATE OF WASHINGTON 



OFFiCE CF ~HE GOVERNOR 



?.0. Box ■t0002 • Olvmoia. .Vashineton •*8504-0002 • <206t 733-6780 



Julv 1. 1994 



The Honorable Albert Gore 

 Vice President of the United States 

 Office of the Vice President 

 Old Executive Office Building 

 Washington. D.C. 20501 



Dear Mr. Vice President: 



Thank you for devoting your skill and prestige to the resolution of our controversy with 

 Canada over Pacific salmon interceptions. Such action is consistent with my long-held 

 belief that strong federal leadership is needed to break the gridlock in the Pacific Salmon 

 Commission in an effort to avoid in the future the very circumstance in which we now find 

 ourselves. 



As you address this challenge, I urge you noj to merely incorporate into 1994 the regimes 

 agreed upon in 1993. The stanis quo is and remains unacceptable. 



We can no longer rely on the short-term agreements that are contributing to the decline of 

 the salmon resource. I recommend that all your efforts, including those directed at 1994, 

 should be focussed on measures that lead toward a comprehensive, coastwide salmon 

 rebuilding regime. Primary among these should be a revision of the decision-making 

 structure of the U.S. Section of the Commission. 



Objective review will show Washington and Oregon's longstanding willingness to contribute 

 to a solution, including last year's agreement to reduce non-Indian Fraser River sockeye 

 harvest for a Canadian reduction of coho harvest on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. 

 Please be assured that we stand ready to work with you again this year to contribute with 

 other U.S. interests to an acceptable outcome that implements coastwide the Treaty's 

 original intent to rebuild runs and equitably share harvest. 



