Relative Abundance 



In general, this project was not designed to sample the 

 relative abundance of Arctic grayling or brook trout. However, 

 while sampling for brook trout (for the stomach contents 

 analysis) , and while sampling the spawning sites and tributaries, 

 several significant concentrations of fish were encountered 

 (Table 11) . 



Swamp Creek, as noted by Skaar (1988) , and to a lesser 

 extent by McMichael (1989) , contained significant numbers of YOY 

 (Table 11) . The highest concentrations of YOY grayling found by 

 McMichael (1989) were located in the east channel of the Big Hole 

 River below the town of Wisdom (Section N on Figure 1) . The 

 higher concentration for this section was not observed during 

 1990, although higher discharges this year may have lowered the 

 overall effectiveness of our electrof ishing gear and methods. 



Significant concentrations of YOY grayling were also found 

 this year in Erb's Ditch #1 just upriver from Wisdom and near one 

 of the spawning sites (Bottom Section) . Adult (1+) grayling were 

 most numerous in Swamp Creek and in the east channel below Wisdom 

 (Section N) . 



High concentrations of brook trout were noted in three of 

 the tributary streams in the study area. Pintlar Creek, Swamp 

 Creek, and Steel Creek had high concentrations of brook trout 

 with Swamp Creek having the highest (based on simple counts of 

 brook trout, not on population estimates) . Few (less than ten) 

 rainbow trout were sampled during the summer. 



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