The Natural Reproduction of the Cutthroat Trout, Salmo Clarki Richardson, in Strawberry Reservoir, Utah

Strawberry Reservoir, Utah is an 8.000 acre lake at the elevation of 7,550 feet; it has a maximum depth of 52 feet and an average depth of 18 feet. The supply of cutthroat trout eggs used to replenish and distribute this trout throughout the state are taken from two spawning traps located on reservoir tributaries. Because it has not proven economical to raise cutthroat to a larger size than newly hatched fry, it is at this site they are planted. Because of competition, predation, and lack of space the planting back of fry to maintain the fishery and spawning run presents a serious problem. Tributaries are at carrying capacity from being closed to fishing and the reservoir supports a tremendous population of trash fish; mainly the Utah chub, Gila atraria (Girard); yellow perch, Perca flavescens (Mitchell); redside shiner, Richardsonius balteatus (Cope); mountain sucker, Pantosteus delphinus Cope; and dace. Rhinichthys osculus Cope. The rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson. and the cutthroat trout dominate the game fish population. It has been the policy of the Utah State Department of Fish and Game to trap and artificially spawn spawn every possible fish, leaving most of the spawning ground unused. This cost, plus the unknown advantage, if any, of artificial over natural reproduction led to the study of the possibilities of natural reproduction for replenishment of the cutthroat trout in the reservoir