BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 301 



49.— STOCKING THF STREAMS OF MONTANA WITH FISH. 



By Governor .TO BIX SCHUYLER CROSBY. 



[Letter to Prof. S. F. Band and reply of the latter.] 



I have great pleasure in laying before you a copy of a joint resolution 

 of the legislature of this Territory as follows: 



COUNCIL JOINT RESOLUTION in relation to the fish interests of Montana. 



Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Montana, That 

 his excellency John Schuyler Crosby be, and is hereby, requested to 

 communicate with the United States Fish Commissioner, with a view 

 to having the streams of the Territory stocked with fish, and also for 

 the purpose of calling their attention to the obstructions in the Clark's 

 Fork of the Columbia River, which prevents salmon from ascending it 

 into the Territory of Montana, and which obstruction can be removed 

 at small expense. 



Our water-courses are many thousands of miles in extent. Our laws 

 for the preservation of fish are very strict. Our people are deeply 

 interested in the subject-matter of your Commission. We shall aid you 

 with all our heart and thank you gratefully for helping us to stock our 

 streams and rivers. I believe a better opportunity for conducting your 

 experiments on a great scale to most useful ends is rarely offered than 

 by this Territory and a people entirely interested in the matter. 



I have the honor to ask you to send at the proper season an agent of 

 your Commission to this Territory, with such supply of spawn or breed- 

 ing fish as may seem to you proper. Every facility to carry out the 

 end proposed by the resolution transmitted will be given you. 



I earnestly indorse the desire of the legislature that the obstructions 

 on the Columbia River (Clark's Fork) may be removed and permit the 

 salmon to reach the thousands of miles of unobstructed water above. 



Helena, February 17, 1883. 



REPLY BY PROFESSOR BAIRD. 



Since the receipt of your letter of the 17th ultimo, informing me of 

 the joint resolution in relation to the fish interests of Montana, 1 have 

 concluded to send one of our most competent experts to make an exam- 

 ination of the Columbia River for the purpose of learning how best the 

 great fishery interests of that stream can be preserved, and will instruct 

 him to place himself in communication with your excellency while 

 making the examination. We will be glad to avail ourselves of your 

 kind offer of assistance. 



I would suggest that it would not be amiss if you would cause to be 



