Table 15. — Comparigon of computations of number of 

 hatchery rainbow trout caught by anglers by using 

 fin-clipped fish and by using scale samples. 



Number of fish planted 



Number of planted fish 

 fin-clipped 



Ratio of fin-clipped to 

 non-fin-clipped fish 

 in planting 



Ratio of fin-clipped to 

 non-fin- clipped fish 

 in catch 



Niunber of hatchery fish 

 caught, calculation 

 by fin-clipping method 



Namber of hatchery fish 

 caught, calculation by 

 scale method 



195^+ 



1955 



25,006 

 10,003 



1:2.5 

 1:1.9 

 11,003 

 8,300 



2i»',792 



8,000 



1:3.09 

 1:1.57 

 2^,720 

 12,128 



The planting of catchable-size rainbow trout 

 does create fishing with no detrimental influ- 

 ences on the wild trout population, although 

 such a program is contrary to Park Service 

 policy. Therefore, future management should 

 be concerned with retaining the excellent wild 

 brown trout population and possibly with 

 encouraging the wild rainbow trout. 



The brown trout populations in both the 

 Madison and Firehole Rivers are well distrib- 

 uted among the different age classes, and a 

 greater harvest would be possible without over- 

 exploiting the fishery. The "fly-fishing only" 

 regulation interferes with the harvest of large 

 browns and could be removed. No additional 

 restrictions are necessary. 



The wild rainbow population may be 

 exploited under the present system and a larger 

 size limit on this species might increase the 

 spawning population. Such a management method 

 was used In Michigan on the North Branch of 

 the Au Sable (Shetter, Whalls, and Corbett, 

 1954). This type of management should only be 

 instituted after several years of special investi- 



gation, particularly on the mortality rates of 

 wild rainbow trout. The present wild rainbow 

 catch has remained stable in both the Madison 

 and Firehole and there is no reason to believe 

 that the rainbow -population will decline due to 

 heavy pressure, since it Jias already withstood 

 extremely heavy pressure when catchable-size 

 rainbows were planted. Another consideration 

 in the management of these streams is that the 

 present trout fishing in both the Madison and 

 Firehole demands expert angling, especially in 

 the late summer, while a catchable-size rain- 

 bow stocking program gives the novice fisher- 

 man a chance to fill his creel. 



SUMMARY 



The Madison River system in Yellow- 

 stone National Park consists of the Firehole and 

 Gibbon Rivers which join to form the Madison; 

 it has 81 miles of stream in the Park. Investi- 

 gations on these streams were carried out from 

 1953 to 1957 to determine the value of existing 

 stocking policies and to suggest management 

 procedures for an expected Increased use of 

 these streams . The past management of these 

 streams had Involved the planting of rainbow 



26 



