REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH ANT) FISHERIES. XCI 



BozEMAN Station, Montana (James A. Hensiiall, SurERiNTENDENT). 



For the purpose of increasing Mic water supply during the summer, 

 a ditch 1,500 feet long, with the necessary liead-gates, etc., was con- 

 structed from a point in Bridger Creek, in the canyon, to a large supply 

 and settling jioud located southwest of the hatchery at the head of 

 the large rearing-ponds, in order that the water might be used during 

 the summer and fall. This pond will also be supplied with water from 

 warm spriugs on the opposite side of the creek, which has a regular 

 temperature of 77° throughout the year. 



The brook-trout and steelhead fry on hand at the beginning of the 

 year were distributed in August in suitable streams and lakes through- 

 out the State, except 3,000 brook and 10,000 steelheads reserved for 

 brood stock. 



It having been decided not to attempt the collection of eggs at Soda 

 Butte Lake, Yellowstone Park, and Mystic Lake, which had been exam- 

 ined during the previous spring, arrangements were made to establish 

 auxiliary stations for the collection of black-spotted trout and grayling 

 eggs in the Upper Madison River, Montana, and at Henry Lake, across 

 the Continental Divide, in Idaho. An investigation of the streams in 

 the vicinity of Deer Lodge, in the Big Blackfoot Valley, was also made, 

 and an abundance of trout was found. 



Early in March the equipment for the auxiliary stations, consisting 

 of 14 hatching- troughs, 600 trays, 300 screens, and 24 egg-cases, which 

 had been constructed by the employees of the station, was sent to 

 Monida by rail, thence by sleighs and dog-sleds to the points selected. 

 Operations were commenced at Henry Lake under the direction of 

 Fish-culturist Jarvis. A temporary hatchery was established in a log 

 cabin 15 by 15 feet, equipi^ed with 6 hatching-troughs 8 feet long, the 

 water supply being taken from a spring pond in the vicinity with a 

 temperature of from 42° to 50°. About 6,000 trout were collected and 

 placed in the ponds during the early spring, but only 186,000 eggs were 

 obtained. Of these, 11,000 were lost in incubation, 20,000 were hatched 

 and planted in a tributary of the lake, and the balance (155,000) were 

 transferred to Bozeman. 



The spawning season opened on April 6 and continued until May 30, 

 though the greater part of the eggs were taken between April 15 and 

 May 15. 



Operations at Horse-thief Springs were undertaken at the same time 

 under direction of Mr. A. J. Sprague, but early in April this site was 

 abandoned and the equipment transferred to Ked Rock, Mont., 40 miles 

 uearer Monida and 20 miles west of Henry Lake. These stations are 

 on opposite sides of the Continental Divide, Henry Lake being on the 

 headwaters of the Snake River and Red Rock at the head of the Jef- 

 ferson River. The equipment here consisted of 6 hatching-troughs 8 

 feet long, with the ordinary trays of woven wire, mesh 7} inch by i inch. 

 The water supply was from a spring about 75 yards distant, of a tem- 

 perature varying from 46° to 55°. As there was no building in the 



