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<br />32 <br /> <br />DISCUSSION <br /> <br />Fish Distribution and Abundance <br /> <br />All fish species previously reported from the study area were caught <br />during this study except for the northern pike ([sox lucius) (Seethaler, <br />McAda and Wydoski, 1976). <br />Rare fish distribution and relative abundance in the study area has <br />apparently changed little in recent years. Seethaler, McAda and Wydoski" <br />(1976) found one juvenile squawfish and two subadults in the upper por- <br />tion of the study area (Jensen to Ouray). The Colorado River Fishes <br />Recovery Team sampled the same area in 1976 and caught 10 juveniles and <br />30 subadult and adult squawfish, and one adult razorback sucker. <br />Vanicek, Kramer and Franklin (1970) sampled below Ouray in 1964-66 <br />and found adult and young-of-the-year squawfish and adult razorback <br />suckers. Holden and Stalnaker (1975) collected in the area from Ouray <br />to Green River in 1967-73 and found all four rare fish, including young- <br />of-the-year squawfish and juvenile humpback chubs. McAda (personal com- <br />munication, 1977) sampled Desolation and Gray canyons in June of 1977 and <br />found approximately 35 squawfish, including juveniles and subadu1ts. No <br />recent change in population status is evident, except that squawfish <br />apparently spawned only in the 'extreme lower portion of the study area <br />in 1977. Thus, the rare fishes appear to be maintainiogpopulations in <br />. - -. ";-, , , . <br /> <br />tA@stu~ a,rea. <br /> <br /> <br />Perhaps the most noteworthy specimens found during the present study <br /> <br />were the young-of-the-year razorback suckers. These represent, to our <br />