Slade Gorton listening to testimony on bill to decommercialize steelhead trout, Seattle, June 29, 1981

HomeCollections and ResearchCollections SearchSlade Gorton listening to testimony on bill to decommercialize steelhead trout, Seattle, June 29, 1981

Not finding what you are looking for?
Ask the MOHAI Collections Staff

Back to Results

Image of Slade Gorton listening to testimony on bill to decommercialize steelhead trout, Seattle, June 29, 1981 — 2000.107.064.02.03

View full size image or right-click on image to save

Photograph

Slade Gorton listening to testimony on bill to decommercialize steelhead trout, Seattle, June 29, 1981

Order an Image

In 1981, bills were introduced in the US Congress to make steelhead trout a game fish rather than one that could be fished commercially. At this time, non-Native fishers could not fish for steelhead commercially. Sports fishers hailed the bill, but Native fishers bitterly opposed it, fearing it could seriously affect their livelihood.

A public hearing on the legislation, held on June 29, 1981 at Seattle’s Federal Building, was filled with noisy supporters on both sides of the issue. Here, Senator Slade Gorton, who had introduced the bill, listens to the raucous crowd. The bill didn't make it to the floor of either the US House or Senate.

Caption information source: Caption information source: “Tempers flare at fish hearing,” by S.L. Sanger, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, June 30, 1981, p. A1.

ID Number: 2000.107.064.02.03

Date: 1981

Creator(s): Webber, Phil H., Photographer

Physical Description: 1 photographic print : b&w ; 10 x 5.5 in.

Credit: MOHAI, Seattle Post-Intelligencer Collection, 2000.107.064.02.03, photo by Phil H. Webber

Subjects: Fish and Fishing, Indigenous Peoples, Politics and Politicians, Activism