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178bridge builderattended a myriad of weddings, funerals, and feasts with Billy all overIndian Country. “I was really struck by the odd mix of deep povertyoverlaid with great pride, and the central role the salmon played intheir survival as a community.”The fragile state of Pacific salmon grew more delicate still. Presentingthemselves solely as fish advocates, biologists and resourcemanagers had sounded a warning in the Seattle Times: “All citizens ofthis state are bound to lose with the present course of salmon andsteelhead management.” There were other factors killing off salmonto be sure, experts acknowledged. However, the tangled web offishery managers threatened irreparable harm to the runs. “It appearsthat control of fishing by state and federal courts, state and federalagencies, international organizations and Indian tribes has beeninadequate,” authorities warned. Experts called for a decisive andclear management structure: “Such a plan is essential and the need isurgent. If it is not initiated soon, the salmon and steelhead runs of thestate of Washington may well cease to exist.”Proposed solutions took various forms. Tribes attacked one congressionalproposal to decommercialize steelhead as a scheme toabrogate treaties. Billy sharply chastised Congressman Don Bonkerfor the bill, and used the media to debunk myths and kill the legislation.Taking steelhead off the commercial market would be a violationof treaty rights, Billy shot back, even if the fish could still beused for ceremony and subsistence. Supporters of the proposal arguedthat Indian nets were destroying steelhead runs, while sportsmenpaid for the resource. Billy refuted the claims. Taxpayers, even thenon-fishing kind, funded steelhead programs through federal grantsused to research the species. Because of the Boldt Decision, tribesinvested resources to track and manage the runs. That effort wouldcease, Billy warned, if Indians could no longer sell the fish.Magnuson, meanwhile, proposed the Salmon and SteelheadEnhancement Act, calling for a widely accepted management plan