16 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
to detect depletion so that remedial measures can be taken before a 
fishery has been destroyed, but also to avoid unduly penalizing fisher- 
men by the enactment of unwise and unnecessary restrictive legisla- 
tion. These observations depend largely upon the availability of 
adequate and current statistics of yield, since such data furnish to the 
biologist the background upon which to base his estimate of the supply 
or population, and predictions of future trends and yields. This he 
does by correlating statistical data of yield with studies of the move- 
ments, mortality, and reproductive habits of each species. Fishery 
statistics not only furnish the basic information for determining deple- 
tion and consequently make wise and timely legislation possible, but 
they have another most important value to the angler and commercial 
fisherman alike, in that they indicate the need for the planting of fish 
and following such planting the extent to which these operations have 
been successful. 
While surveys for statistics of commercial catches have been con- 
ducted by State fishery agencies and this Bureau in programs of vary- 
ing degrees of adequacy for many years, data on the sportsmen’s 
catch have been rarely collected. To obtain this information from the 
angler the cooperation of the anglers themselves is required in record- 
ing and transmitting through suitable means to proper officials the 
records of their catches; such records to include among other things, 
data on species, size, number taken, and location of fishing. Consider- 
able educational work would no doubt have to precede any entirely vol- 
untary plan to obtain catch records of anglers. 
Several attempts have been made by State agencies to collect sta- 
tistics of the anglers’ catches for specific streams or lakes. Various 
degrees of success have been reported, depending on the methods used. 
In one instance a State passed a law setting aside certain ‘“‘test waters.” 
To fish in these waters anglers were required to take out a permit, 
issued without charge, and were further required, under penalty of 
fine, to report their catches daily on cards provided for the purpose. 
A large sign was placed near these waters, giving necessary instructions 
for filling in the cards, and conspicuously painted boxes were provided 
at intervals along the stream to receive the completed cards. This 
project was initiated and the records analyzed by the staff of the 
Division of Scientific Inquiry as a part of its program of research on 
fishery management in interior waters. Excellent results were 
reyorted in this test. Another set of satisfactory records was obtained 
through the efforts of State wardens. No attempt was made by these 
wardens to obtain catch reports from all anglers on a specific stream, 
but instead they contacted and obtained the cooperation of a few 
conscientious fishermen in supplying information on their catches. 
In another instance very complete statistics were obtained on the ang- 
lers’ catch by enlisting the aid of the personnel of a Civilian Conserva- 
tion Corps Camp. These men were equipped with printed question- 
naires which provided for the listing of the necessary information, 
which was obtained from the fishermen upon the completion of each 
day’s fishing. 
It is suggested that individuals and organizations interested in the 
conservation of our fisheries would do well to give careful considera- 
tion to sponsoring some method for recording the sportsmen’s catches, 
such records to form the basis for maintaining the balance between the 
catch and the supply. 
