Confidence in the use of hatcheries for managing Pacific anadromous salmonids has waxed and waned several times in the past 100 years. Now that many of the technological problems have been solved, other problems associated with integration of hatchery fish into natural ecosystems are being identified. The Oregon coho salmon fishery is used as an example to point out the kinds of problems confronting managers - problems that include (1) the overharvest of wild stocks by fisheries geared up to harvest the more productive hatchery stocks, (2) density-dependent survival in both freshwater and marine environments that may be associated with large releases of smolts from hatcheries, and (3) outplanting of hatchery fish to supplement natural spawning that can, if not carefully implemented, reduce survival of the natural and hatchery juveniles. Managers will have to give thoughtful consideration to these problems so that hatcheries are effective tools of management.