Tribal fishers maximizing returns on salmon

The Portland Oregonian on Sept. 12, 2012 reported that Columbia River tribal salmon fishers are using new techniques to capitalize more on the value of their catches. http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2012/09/ooodles_of_fall_chinook_savvy.html

The fishers have learned to increase the prices they receive by taking better care of their catches and marketing their produce faster.

The four tribes with treaty rights to fish for salmon and other species in the Columbia River, Warm Springs, Yakama Nation, Nez Perce and Umatilla have used salmon for ceremonial and commercial purposes for thousands of years. In fact, the Lewis & Clark expedition was amazed in 1805 and 1806 when it passed through the Celilo Falls area, in what is today The Dalles Oregon.

Capt. William Clark wrote about the commercial aspects of this area in the Lewis & Clark Journals on April 16, 1806: "maney nations visit this place for trade. . . . all of those articles they precure from other nations who visit them for the purpose of exchangeing those articles for their pounded fish of which they prepare great quantities. This is the Great Mart of all this Country."  Vol. 7 The Definitive Journals of Lewis & Clark 127-29 (Gary E. Moulton, ed. 1991).

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