Question

Rangers tagged and released 255 salmon into a Maine lake. A month later, fishermen on the lake were surveyed. They reported catching 60 salmon, 20 of which had tags. Using this sample, estimate the salmon population in the lake.

Answer 1

773 salmons

Step-by-step explanation:

Total number of salmon caught by fishermen = 60

Total number of tagged salmon caught = 20

Percentage of tagged salmon in the sample = 20/60 x 100 = 33.33%

255 tagged salmon constitutes 33.33% of the entire salmon population

If the entire population is represented by X

255 = 33/100 of X

X = 255 x 100/33

X = 772.7

Hence, the salmon population in the lake is approximately 773.