Average lengths and weights of wcstslope cutthroat and brook trout bv age 

 class are shown in Table 6. 



Below Edward Creek Section 



A 1000-ft section of German Gulch Creek below the confluence of Edward 

 Creek was electrof ished on July 26 and August 6, 1984. Game fish captured 

 were westslope cutthroat trout and brook trout. No non-game fish were 

 captured. Table 7 summarizes the electrof ishing survey data for the Below 

 Edward Creek Section. 



The standing crop of trout in this section was estimated using a mark- 

 recapture method (Table 8). This section supports about 209 trout weighing 

 16 pounds. Westslope cutthroat trout accounted for 80% of the total trout 

 numbers and 88% of the biomass; brook trout accounted for 20% of the trout 

 numbers and 12% of the biomass. 



Average lengths and weights of westslope cutthroat and brook trout by age 

 class are shown in Table 9. 



Discussion 



German Gulch Creek supports a unique and productive fishery. Of primary 

 significance is the presence of a healthy population of genetically-pure 

 westslope cutthroat trout. Tests conducted by the University of Montana 

 Genetics Laboratory confirmed both the purity of this population and genetic 

 distinctions from other populations of westslope cutthroat trout that have 

 been examined (see Appendix A) . 



Westslope cutthroat trout arc classified as a species of special concern 

 by the State of Montana due to declining numbers, loss of habitat and inter- 

 breeding with other species. Pure westslope populations have been documented 



-5- 



