WEST VIRGINIA 

 Conservation Connmission 



1. National Forests Fishery Management Program. 



A fishery biologist is employed to: (1) Map and study the production of the native 

 brook trout waters; (2) experiment with trout streann improvement; (3) establish 

 trout stocking methods to assure higher angler success; (4) to maintain suitable 

 intra-agency cooperation on mutual fish management activities; and (5) locate and 

 supervise a lake-building program. 



George Washington and Monongahela National Forests; began in 1952, continuing; 



Jack D. Larmoyeux, Project Leader; occasional bulletins available. 

 Address correspondence to: E. A. Seaman, Chief, Div. of Fish Mgt. , Conservation 



Commission, Charleston, W. Va. 



2. Development and Management of Public Fishing Areas. 



The Conservation Commission has encouraged lake building projects in both our trout 

 and warm-water territories. The latter is being given special attention for those 

 areas near heavily populated centers of the State. Creel census and an annual check 

 of the fish population will be made. A fertilization program including both the sur- 

 rounding land and water will be carried on. Several public fishing areas have 

 already been established and are proving very popular to anglers. 



Statewide; began in 1949, continuing. 



Address correspondence to: E. A. Seaman, Chief, Div. of Fish Mgt. , Conservation 

 Commission, Charleston, W. Va. 



3. Selective Creel Census. 



A nunnber of qualified anglers are selected each year on the basis of considerable 

 skill and keen fishing interest to keep personal data of their trips. Some 50 

 members are provided with a special creel booklet in which ihey record informa- 

 tion concerning number and size of fish caught, location of fishing water, date, 

 catch effort, weather and stream conditions, et cetera, per each and every trip. 

 These records are promptly mailed in so that we maykeep up on the progress of 

 the fishing results throughout the year. The results of our Selective Creel Census 

 clearly shows that angling is an art and that the success of these anglers is con- 

 siderably greater than that of the general public. 



Statewide; began January 1949, continuing; $100; reports available. 

 Address correspondence to: Harry Van Meter, Asst. Chief, Div. of Fish Mgt.. , 

 Conservation Commission, Charleston, W. Va. 



4. Aerial Census Project. 



Flying at tree-top level in a small single-engine plane, a fishery biologist conducts 

 an aerial census covering the major waters of the State during the opening weeks 

 of the trout and bass seasons each year. A count is made on the number of cars 

 and anglers frequenting these areas. These data are later compared with the creel 

 census conducted by ground patrolmen in order to ascertain the concentration of 

 fishing pressure and an estimated total harvest from that body of water. Such infor- 

 mation is then useful the following season for either stocking purposes or for en- 

 couraging the anglers to fish less concentrated areas where their success should 

 prove even greater. 



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