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002;J42 years. ,This multi-year stocking facilitated establishment of several year classes within the new restoration sites, and, by using milt from different historic populations to fertilize the hatchery eggs, enhanced the genetic diversity of the reestablished populations. Initially, stocking rates fcr hatchery fry were 2,500 fry/ha per year in fishless lakes, and 1,666 fry/l.0 km per year in fishless streams, with each area to be stocked for three consecutive years. These rates were believed to be necessary to compensate for the stress and mortality of 12 hours of trucking required to move the fish from Bozeman, Montana to Ft. Collins, Colorado, followed by final stccking by horseback or helicopter. However, the stocking rates for fry in lakes were found to be excessive, and were reduced to 1,000 fry/ha per year. The reduced stocking rate facilitated increased growth rates and the production of catchable size fish within four years. Stocking of sub-adult (161 mm) greenbacks in June 1989 facilitated more rapid reestablishment of fishable populations, and allowed these areas to be reopened to angling the following year. However, there were logistical problems in transporting the larger fish (over 386 total kg cf fish) into inaccessible alpine lakes within the RMNP. To resolve these problems, helicopter fire buckets aerated with oxygen were used to transport the fish. Thesec:'lakes were stocked at the rate of 18.5 to 36 kg of fish/ha. This same technique was used on the Rock Creek drainage, above the Leadville National Fish Hatchery in 1991. Stocking in the Rock Creek drainage used larger greenbacks (234 mm), and allowed the area to-immediately be reopened to catch- and-release angling_ Analina As with most subspecies of cutthroat trout, the greenback is easily caught by sport anglers. This feature makes the greenback a good fish for catch-and- release fisheries today, but severely impacted the abundance and distribution of the subspecies during the 1800's, To quote Bell '(1887) "The fish is so easily caught, it is so unwary and confiding, that the fish in a moderate- sized stream can be taken out in one season with a hook and line and a grasshopper. Without the modern hereditary instincts of self-preservaticn, apparently, it cannot hold its own against the fisherman". As part of ,the recovery program, studies on the performance of greenbacks in sport fishing management areas have been conducted since 1982. A few of these studies are described below: South Platte drainaae. mixed-trout fisheries. In September 1973, brook trout' and longnose suckers were removed from Hidden Valley Creek, RMNP, using antimycin. This was followed by the stocking of 82 greenbacks from Como Creek in october 1973. The greenbacks established a reproducing population in both ponded (beaver ponds) and non-ponded stream habitats; but by 1976. brook trout were once again collected in Hidden Valley. Brook trout numbers continued to increase in the beaver pond habitats within the creek through 1981 even with the removal of brook trout by fyke nets. By the end of 1981, it was feared that brook trout would soo~ displace greenbacks in the beaver ponds if a more efficient method of brook'trout removal could not be found. As an alternative to the expensive netting program, an experimental angling program (catch-and- release for greenbacks and catch-and-ki11 for brook trout) was opened on August 1, 1982. Angling was limited to barbless artificial lures only, and a daily possession limit of 18 brook trout of which 10 must be 203 mm or less in length. - Prior to the start of the experimental Hidden Valley angling program, fyke nets were set throughout the beaver ponds. Greenbacks were captured at an overall ratio of one greenback to every three to four brook trout captured; , however the ratio varied between ponds from 1:1 to 1:50. During the first week of fishing in 1982, anglers fishing in the beaver ponds caught an average 15