River Dart fisheries survey 1965

This is the first River Dart Fisheries Survey produced by the Devon River Authority; which was carried out from May to October 1965. The objective was to examine the distribution and relative abundance of salmonid fish in the River Dart, in order to assess the possibility or desirability, of increasing salmon smolt production of the river by artificial propagation or other means. Description, chemical, pollution and biological conditions of the River Dart along with fisheries catches, water extraction and spawning are briefly cited. The method includes the choice of sections and sampling techniques. The results go through the number/type/class of fishes counted while the survey took place, distribution patterns within the different transects/brooks, competition between salmon parr and trout and estimations of population. The section on the discussion and recommendations is introduced by a brief explanation of the bases for the Artificial Propagation Programme and the River Dart specific case-study. The annexes contains River Dart and tributaries maps, fish size distribution tables and figures, tables with totals of salmonid fish found and population density tables.