PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FISHES, 19 2 8 375 

 ROCKY MOUNTAIN TROUT STATIONS 



This group of stations, six in number, maintains a high rate of 

 production but is required to take care of a very extensive range of 

 territory from the coast ranges to the Middle West. As headquar- 

 ters for field operations, they are able to divert surplus eggs to State 

 hatcheries and other bureau hatcheries. Several of these hatcheries 

 have attained new high records of production during the past j^ear. 



BozEMAN (Mont.) Station and Substations 

 (W. T. Thompson, Superintendent) 



Extensive development of the main station and its substations took place 

 in this field during the year. A new 18-inch water-supply line was run from 

 the spring to the hatchery and pond systems. This work was not entirely 

 completed at the close of the year, but it will soon be finished. A number of 

 rearing ponds were remodeled entirely. Extensive improvements to the super- 

 intendent's and foreman's residences were made, and still more work along 

 this line remains to be done. The old wooden bridge on the station reserva- 

 tion was replaced with a new steel and concrete structure. The food house 

 was moved and placed on a new concrete foundation. 



The fish-cultural work has been exceeded by the record of one year only, 

 and in certain respects, particularly in the Loch Leven-trout work, the past 

 year's operations constitute a record. The development of Octomitus among 

 the brook-trout fingerlings was the most serious setback of the year. Fully 

 one-half the stock was lost due to this disease. The use of warmer spring 

 water than heretofore resulted in more rapid growth of the black-spotted 

 and rainbow trouts, and these fi.sh were of a suitable size for distribution at 

 an earlier date than in any previous year. 



Much of the success in the Bozeman field is due to the hearty cooperation 

 extended by the State of Montana. Many exchanges of eggs have been effected, 

 and arrangements were made in some cases for distributing fish from the 

 State hatcheries, thereby efi:ecting considerable saving in the bureau's work. 

 The State also made an outright donation of over 2,000,000 grayling eggs. All 

 brook-trout eggs were received by purchase or exchange or by transfer from 

 other stations of the bureau. The fingerlings on hand at the opening of the 

 year exceeded 500,000, and these were distributed during the remainder of the 

 year. 



There was also established on Federal land, controlled by the livestock 

 experiment station at Miles City, Mont., an 80-acre bass pond. The work was 

 carried on jointly by the State of Montana and the bureau's employees, the 

 State furnishing all money needed for the construction. While this pond has 

 received no brood stock as yet, it will be completed in time to produce fish 

 next year. 



MeadS'W Creek (Mont.) substation. — A small cabin for the accommodation 

 of spawn takers was constructed at Odell Creek during the year, and a 2-car 

 garage was provided for the substation on Meadow Creek. This station has 

 been equipped with an electric-power line and is now wired for both light 

 and machinery. The number of Loch Leven-trout eggs collected at this point 

 again exceeded previous records, with a total of almost 15,000,000 eggs. 

 Nearly half of them were transferred by truck to Bozeman and other stations 

 in the green stage, this method of shipment proving satisfactory in every way. 

 Over 7,500,000 eyed eggs were shipped later, and the output of eggs in the 

 green and eyed stages amounted to 961^ per cent of the total collection. The 

 season's operations with the rainbow trout were somewhat disappointing. 

 Weather conditions during the spawning season were not markedly unfa- 

 vorable, but the run of fish was small, and less than 2,500,000 eggs were taken. 

 These were of excellent quality, and 90 per cent were brought to the eyed 

 stage. Nearly 700,000 fingerlings of this species were returned to the parental 

 waters. This station also handled native black-spotted trout, which were 

 furnished by the State to be planted on a cooperative basis. At the opening 

 of the year 1.500,000 eggs of this species were on hand, and the resulting fry 

 were planted in near-by waters. A consignment of 7.30,000 eggs was received 

 in June and was on hand at the close of the year. CJrayling eggs furnished 



