United States v. Washington, better known as the Boldt Decision, was a controversial 1974 court case which, in effect, granted the right to half of the annual salmon harvest in Washington to Native American tribes which had signed treaties with the U.S. government in the 1850s. 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Official language(s) None Capital Olympia Largest city Seattle Area  Ranked 18th  - Total 71,342 sq mi (184,824 km²)  - Width 240 miles (385 km)  - Length 360 miles (580 km)  - % water 6. ... An Aani (Atsina) named Assiniboin Boy. ... ... // Events and Trends Technology Production of steel revolutionised by invention of the Bessemer process Benjamin Silliman fractionates petroleum by distillation for the first time First transatlantic telegraph cable laid First safety elevator installed by Elisha Otis Science Charles Darwin publishes The Origin of Species, putting forward the theory of evolution...

U.S. District Judge George Boldt's ruled that the phrase "in common with," which is used in the treaties, meant that Indians were entitled to half of the annual fish catch. Map of the boundaries of the United States Courts of Appeals and United States District Courts The United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system. ...

He determined that the treaties -- agreements to move tribes to reservations to make way for white settlers -- reasserted Indian rights to half of the salmon harvests in perpetuity.

For example, the Treaty of Medicine Creek (1854) includes the following language: "The right of taking fish, at all usual and accustomed grounds and stations, is further secured to said Indians in common with all citizens of the Territory." Most of the treaties negotiated by Territorial Governor Isaac Stevens included this, or very similar, language. 1854 (MDCCCLIV) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Isaac Ingalls Stevens (March 25, 1818 - September 1, 1862) was the first governor of Washington Territory, and served as a brigadier general in the Union Army during the Civil War until his death at the Battle of Chantilly. ...

Of this, Judge Boldt wrote: "By dictionary definition and as intended and used in the Indian treaties and in this decision, 'in common with' means sharing equally the opportunity to take fish ... therefore, non-treaty fishermen shall have the opportunity to take up to 50% of the harvestable number of fish ... and treaty right fishermen shall have the opportunity to take up to the same percentage."

The decision was the culmination of years of protests and illegal fishing by Native American activists, especially Bob Satiacum. It was immediately met with shock and outrage by non-Native fishermen, but the ruling has held for more than 30 years. Robert (Bob) Satiacum (1929-1991) was Puyallup tribal leader, and an advocate of native treaty fishing rights. ...