78 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
hatchery reared. It is noteworthy that one-third of the marked fish 
were planted in 1937, the remaining two-thirds in 1938. 
St. Mary River.—On the basis of observations made on the St. 
Mary River by Mr. Surber, from 1935 to 1939, it was concluded that 
the stream is well-suited to trout, so far as temperature and 
other physical and chemical conditions are concerned. The stream is 
rather poor in food, however, and an examination of the stomachs 
of 51 brook trout and rainbow trout showed a numerical predomi- 
nance of terrestrial over aquatic insects. This was especially true of 
the brook trout. Rainbow trout consumed considerably greater num- 
bers of aquatic forms, as well as considerable quantities of algae. 
Artificial stocking with brook and rainbow trout has had little effect 
on the fishing. Of 11,107 marked trout planted since 1935, only 268 
or 2.4 percent have been recoved. The observations also revealed a very 
slow growth rate of stocked fish; a marked downstream migration of 
rainbow trout; an increase in the populations of both brook and rain- 
bow trout due to natural propagation: and a gradual decrease in the 
numbers of planted rainbow and brook trout. 
It is planned to continue the work on this stream during the coming 
year, and it has already been stocked with marked brook and rainbow 
trout fingerlings. North Creek, a stream of quite different type, also 
will be placed on an experimental basis next year. This stream is 
believed to provide much better conditions for trout, and will afford 
an excellent opportunity to determine whether or not rainbow trout 
will show a greater tendency to remain where planted when the 
environment is more suitable. 
Pisgah Game Preserve-—The United States Forest Service has 
complete control of the wildlife on the Pisgah Game Preserve, and 
consequently the streams of this area afford an exceptional opportu- 
nity for experiments in fish management and for a demonstration of 
what can be accomplished by scientific methods. That the manage- 
ment program, under the direction of T. IX. Chamberlain, is produc- 
ing results is indicated by the fact that in 1939 it was possible to ac- 
commodate more anglers and permit a longer season than in previous 
years. In spite of the increases in total fishing intensity, the number 
of fish caught per angler was practically the same in 2 successive 
years, 4.8 in 1939, as compared with 4.9 in 1938. A cursory exam- 
imation of the streams after the fishing season had closed indicated 
that many of them could have been fished more intensively without 
danger of depletion. In fact, some streams apparently are in danger 
of becoming overpopulated with trout, and therefore it is proposed 
to allow a material increase in the amount of fishing during 1940. 
Since anglers are required to have their catches examined at check- 
ing stations, complete data are obtained on the species, size, and 
markings of all fish caught. However, no information can be ob- 
tained from this source concerning the migrations of fish within a 
particular drainage, or of trout below legal size. This, and other 
information which is not obtainable from an examination of anglers’ 
creels, are essential for successful fish management. The required 
information can be procured most satisfactorily by sampling the 
fish population, but it is practically impossible to use a seme in the 
average trout stream. In an attempt: to work out a satisfactory 
method for sampling our streams, the chemical method of conducting 
a fish census is being investigated. 
