FEEDING HABITS OF FISHES 



No intensive efforts have been made yet on feeding habits of 

 fishes. To date findings from studies conducted in other states and 

 reported in the literature have been used in management. One study 

 has been completed of stomach analysis of brown trout, rainbow trout, 

 and Utah chubs from Hebgen Lake. Another is in progress on the 

 dolly varden trout as will be mentioned under a later section. 



CREEL CENSUS 



The creel census program as outlined in the Biennial Report, 

 1946-1947 and 1947-1948 was continued and expanded this biennium. 

 The general creel census taken by the deputy game wardens while on 

 regular patrol constituted the bulk of the catch data. 



Those regularly engaged in guiding or outfitting fishermen are 

 in an excellent position to furnish the Department with creel census 

 of those fishing under their supervision. Response of these guides 

 and outfitters improved markedly during the biennium. Nine re- 

 ported during 1948 and forty-eight sent in catch records in 1949. 

 The boat house operators on Hebgen Lake have been most coopera- 

 tive in this endeavor. In 1948 they reported 1,050 fishermen who 

 fished 4,362 hours and caught 2,837 trout and four grayling at a rate 

 of 0.65 game fish per hour. In 1949 they reported 4,008 fishermen 

 who fished 16,753 hours and caught 9,043 trout and five grayling 

 at a rate of 0.54 game fish per hour. 



While records obtained from individual fishermen will always 

 be very inadequate, they will be of great value in supplying informa- 

 tion on angling trends and species composition of the catch for certain 

 waters. Response from this source also improved during this bi- 

 ennium. Pocket-sized booklets, "Fishermen's Logs," were prepared 

 for distribution to cooperative sportsmen. These are mailed to per- 

 sons requesting them and become their own, personal permanent 

 records. The department asks for the temporary return of the logs 

 to Helena at the end of the fishing season for transcription of the 

 records. They are then returned to the fishermen for the next season. 



During 1947 and 1948, 408 logs were distributed. By the end of 

 1948, there was response from 40 per cent of the log holders. Of the 

 336 logs out in 1949, response was received from 72 per cent. 



During this biennium a report- was prepared and published, 

 summarizing the creel census findings to date. Table I from this re- 

 port is reproduced herein to demonstrate the practical value of creel 

 census. It will be noted that the case of the eastern brook trout is 

 most spectacular. There were 56 streams in the census where eastern 

 brook trout constituted more than 50 per cent of the catch; and yet 

 in 27 of these streams, no eastern brook were planted in 1946, 1947, 

 or 1948. Considering these 27 streams, 19 of them received plantings 



iPhenicie, Charles K., and Clinton, G. Bishop. 1950. Condition P'actor 

 Alinement Charts. Prog. Fish. Cult., Vol. 12, No 3: 163-164 



-1950. Why Creel Census? Montana Fish and Game Commission 

 Bulletin No. 4. 



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