The fishing activity of the individual fisherman is expressed in terms 

 of "fisherman-days" and "fisherman -hours (pole-hours)." As the term implies, 

 a fisherman-day represents a day of fishing by an individual, irrespective 

 of the number of hours involved. The term "fisherman-hours" represents the 

 number of hours fished by a fisherman* 



In a fevj instances complete data were not obtained on all aspects of 

 the study; those interviev/ records vrere omitted in calculating the particu- 

 lar aspects for which data vrere incomplete. Accordingly, the number of 

 individuals in the various samples listed in tables is not always the same. 



RESULTS OF CREEL CEHSUS 



Based on recorded data shovm in tables 1, 2, 3, and 4, it is estimated 

 that the fishing and yield in 1951 V of the i'lorth Fork Sun River (from its 

 headwaters to its junction \vith the Willov; Creek outlet canal), including 

 that from Gibson and Diversion Reservoirs, v/as 7,201 fisherman-days (33,455 

 f isherman-houjrs), and 14,755 fish xveighing 6,723 pounds (table 5), Estimates 

 of fishing and yield, reduced to a surface-acre or mile-of-stream basis are 

 shoT/n in table 6, 



Table 5 indicates that there v;as slightly more fishing pressure and 

 yield on the approximate 80 miles of the lorth Fork Sun River than on the 

 1,460 acres of water in Gibson and Diversion Reservoirs. Table 5 also shows 

 considerable variation in the fishing pressure between the various units of 

 the river. It is believed that this situation can be attributed largely to 

 accessibility. 



The upper section of the river (above Gibson Reservoir) v;as accessible 

 only by trail or by boat. Relatively few people fish in this extensive, 

 scenic, wilderness area, although there were at least seven dude ranchers 

 v;ho made a business of packing people into this area and one outfit (li-L 

 Ranch) provided lodging facilities within easy walking distance of the area. 



3/ Estimates are for the period Llay 20 to September 30, 1951, only; 

 however, on the basis of only two parties observed in the 4-day period, 

 October 26-29, and interrogation of local residents and State Fish and Game 

 Department employees at the game checking station, it is believed that fish- 

 ing in the area under study was small beti'/een October 1 and llovember 15, 

 the end of the regular open season. Although weather conditions were ex- 

 trem.ely bad throughout the 4-day check period and thus could account for the 

 limited fishing at that time, the T/eather in the stiady area ordinarily can 

 be expected to be on the extreme side a:i?ter the end of September, Further- 

 more, the ilorth Fork Sun River area is one of the major elk hunting areas in 

 Montana, and most local people devote much of their spare time during the 

 fall and earljr winter to hunting. In the past, winter fishing has been 

 rather extensive, but no attempt ivas made to determine its extent during 

 the T/inter of either 1950-51 or 1951-52. 



11 



