Study Area 



The study area included streams and rivers in northwest Montana (Figure 1) primarily on 

 lands in the Kootenai National Forest. An additional thirty-four sites were sampled on 

 streams in the Lolo National Forest in an area adjacent to Kootenai National Forest lands 

 along die Clark Fork River. Study sites were selected based on geographic and 

 longitudinal placement within the watershed of the Kootenai and Lolo National Forests. 

 Forest maps from these respective National Forests were used to define watershed 

 boundaries within the study area. A broad spectrum of habitat types were sampled. Some 

 of the sample sites were recommended by Don Skaar from the Department of Fish, Wildlife 

 and Parks, Doug Perkinson from the Kootenai National Forest, and Patricia O'Connor 

 from the Lolo National Forest. 



Methods 



All study sites were selectively sampled using a Smithroot model 12 electroshocker. 

 Electroshocker output ranged from 40 to 900 volts direct current depending on the 

 conductivity of the sample stream. The frequency of DC output remained at 60 pulses per 

 second for all streams sampled. Each habitat type present at a particular site, i.e. pool, run, 

 riffle, backwater and various substrate types, was sampled with the shocker to assess the 

 micro-habitat preferences of the sculpin species. D-nets were used in conjunction with the 

 electroshocker to capture sculpins. 



Several additional sampling techniques were experimented with during this six week 

 study to test their effectiveness at capturing sculpins. These techniques included; minnow 



