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19 <br />caught on the Green, Colorado, Yampa and White rivers (USFWS, <br />UDWR unpublished data). Of these fish, 12 were immediate <br />mortalities (11~), the remainder were reported released alive. <br />Approximately 500 of all reported were actually confirmed to <br />be squawfish by qualified personnel or through presence of tags, <br />including all of the mortalities. These figures include a 10~ <br />angler capture rate on Carlin and radio-tagged fish in the Ouray <br />area of the Green River (Harold Tyus, personal communication). <br />The remaining 50% were identified by anglers. Due to the <br />similarities between squawfish and roundtail chubs and common <br />misidentification of these fish, many of these reports, <br />particularly those of fish less than 300mm, are suspect. Few <br />lengths were reliably reported. However, of the fish whose <br />lengths were reported, 80% were greater than 400 mm,.indicating <br />the majority of pressure is against reproductive adults. <br />These records of angler-caught squawfish are for the most <br />part volunteer reports inspired by informational signs and <br />brochures and therefore are probably not representative of the <br />total squawfish catch, or of squawfish mortalities. Anglers are <br />unlikely to report a dead squawfish since they could incur a <br />large fine. Reports do not include delayed mortalities. Some <br />anglers simply do not report any endangered species caught. <br />In some areas, most notably the Colorado River near Grand <br />Junction, Colorado, there is a population of vagrant people that <br />live near the river (Social Services Dept. Mesa County, pers. <br />comm.), and occasionally eat fish caught in the river. One <br />radiotagged fish was tracked near a permanent vagrant camp where <br />