Thanks for the comment, Peggy. It's certainly a beautiful area!
I don't think the hatchery is ideal, but the fish are fed and released, so given the dams and such which block natural reproduction, it's probably a reasonably good solution, and better than totally losing the populations.
I was also interested to learn that they mark hatchery fish (by lasering the tip off the little fin on top between the big dorsal and the tail fins) and that it's illegal for a non-native American to take wild salmon from the river, or something. (If a non-native has a salmon, it better have that little fin tip lasered off.)
Love the pics. We visited the Gorge a few years back, had a really nice hike to a waterfall with no tourists. Mt Hood looked cool in the distance.
ReplyDeleteLike the fishery pics. Have had images of worst places when I hear about these places, makes me feel better to see how nice those fish are living.
Thanks for the comment, Peggy. It's certainly a beautiful area!
ReplyDeleteI don't think the hatchery is ideal, but the fish are fed and released, so given the dams and such which block natural reproduction, it's probably a reasonably good solution, and better than totally losing the populations.
I was also interested to learn that they mark hatchery fish (by lasering the tip off the little fin on top between the big dorsal and the tail fins) and that it's illegal for a non-native American to take wild salmon from the river, or something. (If a non-native has a salmon, it better have that little fin tip lasered off.)