4.7 hours for the stream above Gibson Reservoir, 3,9 hours for the middle 

 section of the river, and 4,1 for the lower section. Fisherman-^hours per 

 day on the reservoirs averaged as follows; Gibson Reservoir, 5,6 hours; 

 Diversion Reservoir, 4.8 hours; Pishlam Reservoir, 3,3 hours; Willow Creek 

 Reservoir, 3.8 hours; Tunnel Lake, 5.4 hours; Split Rock Lakes, 6.3 hours; 

 and Wood Lake, 5,1 hours. 



» 



Most of the fishermen made only 1-day trips to the area, but a suf- 

 ficient number made extended trips of such duration (2 to 57 days) that the 

 average was 1,9 days for the area below Gibson Reservoir, 2,0 for Gibson 

 Reservoir, 3,5 for the area above Gibson Reservoir, and 1,4 for Wood Lake, 



RESULTS OF FISHERIvIMI-EaPEIIDITURE STIHDY 



On the assumption that expenditures made by fishermen using a fishery 

 are an indication of its monetary value, data pertaining to this aspect of 

 the fisheries were obtained during the course of the creel census. Because 

 of difficulties inherent in obtaining certain types of expenditure informa- 

 tion (Fish and Wildlife Service, 1951c), the present survey was restricted 

 to items relating to trip and transportation expenses; to complete the 

 analysis, investment and annual expenditure figures obtained in another 

 study in Montana are included. 



Because fishermen's expenditures v;ere considerably higher in the more 

 remote locations of the study area, expenditure data were compiled sepa- 

 rately for the T;aters below Gibson Reservoir, for Gibson Reservoir, and 

 for waters above Gibson Reservoir, Fishing and jdeld data were secured 

 for only a 2-T,ireek period on Wood Lake, so expenditure data for this unit 

 were compiled separately. In the follo^ving analysis of fishermen's expend- 

 itures, data are presented for each of the loca.tions, as well as for the 

 study area as a whole. 



The average round-trip mileage and transportation expenditure (at 

 7 cents per mile) for 1 day of fishing for each fisherman was computed as 

 follows; beloT/7 Gibson Reservoir, 38,7 miles, .^2,71; Gibson Reservoir, 31,1 

 miles, $2,18; above Gibson Reservoir, 41,0 miles, -^2,87; and Wood Lake, 

 45,9 miles, $3,21, The average round -trip mileage and transportation ex- 

 penditure for the area as a whole was 38,5 miles and $2,70, 



Trip expenditures made up of items listed in table 9 varied from JO 

 to 018, 00 per person per day, and averaged O0.70 in the area beloY/ Gibson 

 Reservoir, 01,89 for Gibson Reservoir, 05,33 in the area above Gibson 

 Reservoir, and 0o,43 for Wood Lake, The average for all areas was Olo07, 

 Trip expenditures were higher in the more remote areas (except Wood Lake) 

 because of boat rentals, horse rentals, and guide service, and the greater 

 cost of lodging, food, and miscellaneous items. The considerably Icnver 

 expenditure for Wood Lake fishermen can be accounted for by the fact that 

 most of the individuals spent onljr 1 day per fishing trip, thus they had ■ 

 no expenditures for many of the items listed in table 9, Considering the 

 study area as a whole, approximately 44 percent of the fishermen did not 

 make any purchases of supplies or services, 



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