Evaluation of Exploitation as a Means of Improving Growth in a Stunted Population of Brook Trout

The stunted population of brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis in Olive Lake, British Columbia, was exploited at an annual rate of 20% fishing mortality for 3 years in an attempt to improve growth rates. In response to this exploitation, the age-frequency distribution shifted from old to younger fish, and the mean weight of all age-classes increased. Maximum weight of brook trout increased from 68 to 158 g (N = 40 and 134, respectively). Recruitment also increased; consequently, the population density and biomass remained at about 750 fish/hectare and 30 kg/ hectare. Thus, growth of brook trout increased when the density of the older cohort of fish was reduced, although the total density of the population did not change significantly.