CREEL CENSUS AND EXPENDITURE STUDIES 

 MISSOURI RIVER BASIN, 19U7-52 



The Office of Missouri River Basin Studies, Fish and Wildlife Service, 

 conducted 13 ci9el -census and fisherman-expenditure studies under a variety of 

 conditions in the Missouri River Basin during the period 19b7 through 1952. 

 Since several of the studies covered more than one body of water, information 

 is available on a total of 26 areas: 7 warm-water reservoirs or lakes, 3 warm- 

 water streams, 11 cold-water reservoirs or lakes, and £ cold-water streams. 



This paper summarizes data on fisherman use, yield to the fisherman, 

 and fisherman's expenditures for these 26 areas. Methods used in the studies 

 are briefly described. Principal characteristics are given for each area, to- 

 gether with information on type and period of coverage, period of estimates, 

 and manner of handling expenditure data, 



METHODS 



Except for minor refinements made during the course of the studies, 

 and limitation on coverage of certain areas, similar methods were used for all 

 studies; and it is believed that results are generally comparable. 



Studies were usually started on the opening of the fishing season in 

 the spring and continued throughout the summer. In some cases, limited obser- 

 vations and fisherman contacts were made in the fall (and winter, if fishing 

 was permitted then) in order that an estimation could be made of pressure and 

 yield for the entire season. Data were obtained by checking stations or by 

 patrol, checking stations being used whenever possible. Large reservoirs (or 

 lakes) and extensive sections of streams were divided into check areas which 

 were covered on alternate days or alternate mornings and afternoons. Coverage 



