Record pink salmon run on Washington's White River

BUCKLEY, Wash. (AP) — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says a record number of wild pink salmon — more than 470,000 — have been collected this fall at the Mud Mountain Dam near Buckley.

They have been transported by truck to spawning grounds above the dam on the White River.

The News Tribune of Tacoma reports the previous record at the dam was about 128,000 fish in 2007.

Pink salmon, which average about 4 pounds, have a two-year life cycle. Returning fish could set another record in 2011.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.