METHODS 



As already indicated, 119 miles of the Madison River (from 

 its mouth to the head of Hebgen Reservoir) was included in the study. 

 To facilitate the investigation, this portion of the river was divided 

 into three sections, each of which was studied one season. Each of 

 the major sections was further divided into check areas, not only to 

 facilitate the study but to enable the investigators to differentiate 

 between usage, yield, and other aspects of the fishery. Limits of 

 each section or check area were selected at points which permitted 

 the least opportunity for fishermen to move from one to the other,, 

 The three sections and the various check areas are shown diagramatically 

 in Figure 6, 



Intensive operations were begun with the opening of the 

 fishing season and continued through September 30 each year. In addi- 

 tion, in 19^0 a 7-day check was made of both the Lower Section and 

 Madison Reservoir in mid-October and a lj»day check was made of Madison 

 Reservoir in mid-November, A U-day check of the Channel Area was 

 made in mid-October in 195>1, Except for the fall checks when only 

 one man was used, crews of five to seven men were available for con- 

 ducting the study. 



Data were obtained for each check area by means of patrols 

 or check stations, check stations being used whenever possible,, It 

 was not always practical to conduct daily, full-day censuses of all 

 check areas within a section; and in such instances, a schedule was 

 arranged for coverage on alternate mornings and afternoons. Cover- 

 age was always made on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Each crew 

 member's two nonwork days were taken during the week and these were 

 alternated so that all weekdays were covered over a 2-week period. 

 Every effort was made to contact as many fishermen as possible. Con- 

 ditions were such on the Madison River that uncontacted parties 

 usually could be accounted for and recorded; thus, knowledge was had 

 of the total number of fishermen using a check area during any check 

 period. The percent of the parties which were contacted was? 1950s, 

 river, Sh percent, and Madison Reservoir, 1^9 percent; 19£l, river, 

 69 percent; and 1952, river, U8 percent, and Hebgen Reservoir, 21 

 percent. 



Exception to the general plan of operation outlined above 

 was made for the Three Forks Check Area because prestudy observa- 

 tions indicated that it received limited use by fishermen, A total 

 of 15 patrols of one day each was made of this area. These checks 

 were scheduled so that five Saturdays, five Sundays, and one each of 

 the weekdays were represented. 



Data secured from contacted fishermen relative to use and 

 yield of the fisheries included the number of fishermen per party, 

 home address, type of fishing (boat or shore), time spent fishing. 



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