Hatcheries

It is very plausible that hatcheries could help repopulate and help bring the number of wild salmon back up to where it used to be but, this same thought to be helpful action, might actually harm the species altogether instead. Some people might believe that if the situation at hand is too little of a population, then why not hatch more? The reason is told between the connection of the elements of the complete salmon system itself. Are hatchery fish helping us replentish the reduced salmon stock, or depleting it further?
The original hatcheries were merely spots in small streams that lead to the oceans where incubated eggs were kept safe until hatched. After they were hatched they were free to be wild. This was done to help rise the population of the salmon. By the second decade feeding the fry after they were hatched became very popular. Unfortunately the feed they were given brought disease to the small fingerlings and put the whole salmon population at risk. Not until late 60’s that the feed given to the small fingerlings, that made the difference. The pelletized food for the fingerlings made healthy strong salmon and once again the population began to rise.
Once the streams were filled with strong disease free hatchery fish, they soon learned that these numbers were depleting the wild salmon. Streams that were once filled with wild salmon who returned home to lay their own eggs were now filled to the brim with farmed fish. The problem lies within the salmon system. Salmon return from the ocean to lay their eggs. Once the eggs hatch they feed off the nourishment of the streams. Since hatchery fish over populate these streams, there is no nourishment left to go around. This over populated problem started to deplete both sides of the fish; hatchery and wild salmon. The streams simply cannot support such a great number.
Another side effect that can be seen as a deterrent is offspring. Fishermen make their money off lbs per salmon caught. Once