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METHODS <br />Movement, Spawning and Rearing Investigations <br />The movement of adult Colorado squawfish was followed using <br />radiotelemetry. Fish were collected using electrofishing, gill nets, <br />trammel nets, and traps. Colorado squawfish longer than 500 mm total <br />length (TL) were surgically implanted with radio transmitters following <br />procedures outlined by Tyus (1982). Transmitters weighed about 10-11 <br />grams in air and had a life expectancy of approximately 6 months. All <br />rare fishes collected were weighed (grams) and measured (TL, mm). <br />River reaches where radio-equipped Colorado squawfish were released <br />were searched for the presence of these radiotagged fish at least bi- <br />weekly. A larger area was searched at times when fish could not be <br />located in the immediate study area. The majority of the search effort <br />was conducted using boats; however, airplanes and helicopters were also <br />employed. Location and movement of fish was identified by river mile <br />(RM) with the confluence of the Green and Colorado rivers starting as <br />RM 0. Other tributary river mileage was calculated using the tributary <br />mouth as RM 0. <br />Possible spawning areas for Colorado squawfish were identified <br />using radiotelemetered fish, and by analysing collections of larval <br />fish. The radio tracking effort was intensified during the suspected <br />Colorado squawfish spawning season (July-August). When more than one <br />radio-equipped fish were found at a particular location -- a possible <br />indication of pre-spawning or spawning activities in that area -- trammel <br />nets were actively fished (drifted) there to determine if other Colorado <br />squawfish might be present. Collected Colorado squawfish were measured <br />in the usual manner, and observations were made for sexual products and <br />any external reproductive characteristics of the fish. <br />During July and August radio tracking efforts were accompanied by <br />qualitative sampling of the larval fish community. Larval fishes were <br />collected from backwaters and shoreline areas at 2-5 river mile intervals, <br />using fine-mesh hand nets. All larval fishes collected were preserved <br />in formaldehyde and sent to the Larval Fishes Laboratory, Colorado State <br />University, Fort Collins, for identification. <br />A special Colorado squawfish young-of-the-year (YOY) survey was <br />conducted each fall to identify nursery areas, river regions occupied by <br />• YOY Colorado squawfish of fingerling size (25-60 mm). These surveys <br />were done with seines (3x5 mm-mesh) from mid-September through October. <br />The YOY surveys were quantitative; the areal extent of each seining <br />a effort was recorded, as were the water depth, water velocity, and substrate <br />characteristics of the areas sampled (Archer et al. 1980). Sampling <br />sites were river backwaters selected at about 5 mile intervals. At <br />least two seine hauls were made in each backwater, and one similar haul <br />was made along the adjacent river shoreline. <br />-4-