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March 16, 1993 

 Chairman Vento 

 Page Two 



THE ASSURANCE OF COMPLETE COMPLIANCE WITH ESTABLISHED ANNUAL 

 SPAWNING ESCAPEMENT GOALS AND LIMITING TOTAL ANNUAL HARVEST TO 

 70 PERCENT OR LESS IS THE CLOSEST THING THERE IS TO A "SILVER BULLET" 

 FOR THE DECLINING POPULATIONS OF PACIFIC NORTHWEST SALMON. 



In addition, selective fishing gear has routinely reduced body size of commercially caught 

 salmon, for example by almost 23 percent in Washington since 1935 (see Exhibit 3). Because 

 egg number is related to the size of mature female fish, reduced body size can lead to reduced 

 fish abundance even if the population size remained constant over time. (These Exhibits are 

 from written testimony I presented to the Subcommittee on Wednesday, March 10, 1993.) 



For the maximum benefit to salmon production, restore lost flood plain riverine and estuary 

 habitats. I am compelled to remind the members of the Subcommittee that improvements to 

 freshwater habitats will not result in increased salmon abundance unless commensurate 

 improvements are made to lost and degraded estuarine habitat. Estuaries provide critical 

 physiological transition areas, food, and refuge from predation for several species of Pacific 

 Northwest anadromous salmon and trout. Simply stated, restoration projects should be balanced. 

 Existing estuarine habitat will serve as a "bottieneck" to salmon production if planned 

 improvements occur in upriver and not in estuarine habitat. 



Finally, certain statements made by Mr. Pat Higgins of Humboldt, California, were misleading, 

 false, and irresponsible. Mr. Higgins' statements that the state of California has no Forest 

 Practice's Acts is untrue and a blatant misrepresentation of fact. California, along with Oregon 

 and Washington have some of the most stringent Forest Practice's Acts in the United States. 

 To balance the needs of the timber and fishing industries, and accordingly to assure continued 

 production of wood products and protection of our salmon resources, state and federal agencies 

 should make every effort to update and enforce these acts. 



Again, thank you for the opportunity to address the Subcommittee and to present corrections and 

 additions to the record. If I could be of further assistance please do not hesitate to ask. 



Respectfully, 



bhn F. Palmisano, Ph.D. 

 Fisheries Scientist 



cc: Charles H. Burley, Portland, OR. 

 Northwest Forest Resource Council 



Mark E. Ray, Washington, D.C. 

 American Forest & Paper Association 



