Hartman v. Washington State Game Commission

The Washington State Game Commission appeals from a declaratory judgment which held part of a fishing regulation to be invalid. We affirm the trial court.

The Game Commission adopted the 1974 fishing regulations which provided in part:

Fishing From Boats Equipped With Motors Unlawful —It shall be unlawful to fish from a boat or any other floating device equipped with a motor during the supplemental steelhead and whitefish seasons in the following waters: [A list of 11 rivers or parts of rivers follows.]

Three fishermen affected by the prohibition challenged the regulation. The trial court…