Washington Times columnist Gene Mueller writes about fishing and other outdoor sports activities. Mueller said that while interest groups express concern about the impact of saltwater anglers on fish populations, no one really knows how many people fish recreationally or how many fish they catch. This situation would challenge

marketers interested in the fishing population. How could a seller obtain an accurate sample? One idea would be to contact residents of coastal counties using random digit dialing. This sampling frame would include many, if not all, people who fish in the ocean, but would also include many people who do not fish, or who fish for business rather than recreation. One regional agency seeking to collect statistics on fishermen, the Atlantic Coast Cooperative Statistics Program, prefers to develop a sampling frame more related to the people who fish. Another idea would be to use state fishing license records.

However, privacy would be a drawback. Some people might not

They want their records shared, and they might hide phone numbers. To further complicate this issue for Atlantic fishing, most northeastern states do not require a license to fish in saltwater. People who fish from shore and docks are also exempt in some states. A political action group called the Recreational Fishing Alliance suggests that charter fishing companies collect data.

Questions

1. Imagine that an agency or company has asked for help collecting data on the number of recreational anglers fishing off the coast of Georgia. What advice would you give about sampling? Which method or combination of methods would generate the best results?

2. What other criteria besides accuracy would you expect to consider? What sampling methods could help you meet those criteria?