Ah, that IS the menu we got. I guess I should have looked at it more carefully because, as you can see, the halibut entree is MUCH more interesting than the salmon. We should have ordered 2 halibuts!

And I think you're describing the "subsistence" permits correctly. Of course, most of these folks aren't doing really doing this "to live." Like we spent about a half hour chatting with these 3 couples from Wasilla who were working one of the wheels. Apparently you bring down your campers and take turns during the summer sharing the wheel with your friends. Sure, they probably wouldn't have been there if not to bring home the fish, but I could tell this was as much about recreating as eating. The men were tinkering with their toys (ATVs, fish wheel, etc.) and the women were socializing and filleting. It did look like fun -- at least for a day. A very Alaskan thing to do! Looked like a much better gig than standing on the side of a river and hoping to get a nibble on your line.