trates on comparing the survival of wild and hatchery - 

 reared trouts in controlled environments under vary- 

 ing conditions. 



Fishery Management Services 



Sport fishing continues to be the most popular 

 form of outdoor recreation in America. The Federal 

 areas, including more than one-fourth of the total 

 land and water areas of the country, hold a key spot 

 in providing such recreation. The excessively heavy 

 use made of our fishing waters has reduced our 

 natural fish populations; consequently, both the Bureau 

 of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife and the States, wishing 

 to maintain the sport of fishing, try to restore fish 

 numbers in many fished-out waters. This is where 

 fishery management enters the picture. Management 

 involves the application of the knowledge gained from 

 fishery research to the fish and to their habitat or 

 environment so as to provide the optimum in fishing 

 and at the same time preserve an adequate brood 

 stock. 



In the field of fishery management, the Bureau 

 provides services to improve sport fishing on its 

 own areas and on lands administered by other federal 

 agencies. Technical assistance is given the Depart- 

 ment of Defense, Veterans Administration, Bureau of 

 Indian Affairs, National Park Service, and the De- 

 partment of Agriculture on some National Forests 

 in cooperation with State fish and game departments. 

 When they request it Bureau biologists help these 

 agencies plan and carry out sport fishing projects. 



In its fishery management program, the Bureau 

 sends trained and experienced biologists to make 

 stream and lake surveys. They determine the con- 

 dition of the fish populations such as, are the fish 

 healthy, of the right size range, are there too many 

 small fish, are there too many fish for the water 

 area; whether the waters need additional fish stocked; 

 what species, numbers, and sizes of fish should be 

 stocked; need for removing undesirable fishes; and 

 habitat improvements that should be made. Reports 

 on the findings of the surveys and recommendations 

 are then prepared for the agency and technical as- 

 sistance is provided in carrying out the recommenda- 

 tions. 



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