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The Human Dimensiens in Natural Reseurces Unit at Celerade State is well-knewn fer conducting public epinion studies on natural-reseurce tepics. Jerry Vaske, an asseciate prefesser in natural reseurces, recreation and teurism at Colerade State, wrote the report and said the results are significant in their endersement ef recovery efferts fer endangered fish. "Goverrunent agencies get beat up a let by peeple who. are disgruntled," Vaske says. "Very few peep Ie call up and say, ',Yeu're doing a geed jeb.' Our survey results shew there is censiderable support fer the actiens these. agencies are.:engaged in to. save these fish." In the early 1900s, the Celorade squawfish, benytail chub, humpback chub and razorback sucker were commen in the upper Celerado. River basin. The Celerade squawfish was the tep predater amang the four. Sometimes referred to. as "Celerade River salmen," they are knawn fer migrating up to 200 miles to. spawn. Squawfish are capable ef grewing to. 6 feet in length and 80 pounds in weight; they once were highly regarded by anglers. But grawth encroached en the fish's habitat. Dams and diversions altered nermal stream flaws and prohibited migratian. Non-native fish such as catfish, nerthern pike, red shiners .and fathead minnaws were introduced to the rivers, where they turned to the eggs and yeung of endangered fish for fead. Now, witheut prctecting and restering their historic habitat, the feur species of endangered fish could became lest ferever, according to. the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The survey results indicate the public dees net want that to. happen. Along with specifically supporting recevery efferts, 59 percent ef those centacted veiced a "pesitive attitude" teward saving endangered fish. Twenty-five percent had no opinien, and 16 percent said their attitude was negative.. Eighty-ene percent of these surveyed agreed with the statement that the Colorado squawfish, benytail chub, humpback thub' and razerback sucker sheuld be saved because "recovering endangered fish is as impertant as tecevering endangered birds and mammals." Seventy-three percent agreed the fish should be recevered because they "help to maintain balance in nature," and 72 percent agreed "endangered fish sheuld be recevered whenever possible." Thirty-eight percent thaught the fish sheuld be recevered so. they "ceuld become sport-fish that anglers could catch. " Seventy.:five percent of the respendents theught stecking nen-native fish in the river basin should be permitted enIy.ifkdees net harm the endangered native fish. . Overwhelming majorities. ef elected efficials, anglers, envirerunentalists and representatives ef -2-