16 U. S. BUREAU or FISHEEIES. 



Bechler River rises on the northwest side of Pitchstone Plateau and 

 winds to the southward to its junction with Falls River just north of 

 the boundary. It passes thi'ou^h a deep gorge in which are several 

 falls, notably Iris Falls, and a short distance below Colonnade Falls. 

 Below these falls it receives several tributaries, the most important 

 of which is Boundary Creek, which rises across the border and flows 

 southeastward to its junction with Becliler River. 



In 1920 A. H. Dinsmore visited this region and reported it as 

 one of the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful, of the valleys in 

 all the park — flat as a floor, abounding in wild and domesticated 

 grasses, meandered by fine, clear streams in which native trout of 

 good size may be taken in large numbers. At the head of the valley, 

 within an area of not more than 3 miles, not less than eight streams 

 fall from the timbered plateau over falls and cascades which rival 

 any in the park excepting the Great Falls of the Yellowstone. So 

 close to the valley are these waterfalls that many of them are in plain 

 view as one rides through it. 



Native trout are abundant in Falls River, probably up as far as 

 Rainbow Falls, and in Mountain Ash Creek to Union Falls; also in 

 all the waters below the falls. 



FISHING REGULATIONS. 



In order to prevent undue destruction of fish and depletion of the 



Eark waters, certain restrictions have become necessary, and it is 

 elieved that anglers generally will be in full sympathy with the pro- 

 tective measures that the park authorities find it desirable to adopt 

 from time to time. The general policy is to curtail fishing as little as 

 may be compatible with the maintenance of the supply and to 

 depend largely on increased fish-cultm^al operations to prevent the 

 depletion of park waters. 



Following are the fishing regulations now in force: 



1. Fishing wath nets, seines, traps, or by the use of drugs or explosives, or in any 

 other way than with hook and lines, or for merchandise or profit, is prohilnted. 



2. Fishing in particular waters may be susperded by the superintendent. 



3. All fish hooked less than 8 inches long shall be carefidly handled with moist 

 hands and retiirned at once to the water, if not seriously injured. Fish retained should 

 be killed. 



4. Ten fish shall constitute the limit for a day's catch per person from all waters 

 within 2 miles of the main V)elt-line road system. In the case of other waters the 

 superintendent of the park may authorize a limit of not exceeding 20 fish for a day's 

 catch per person. 



LIST OF FISHES. 



1. Montana Grayling {Thymallvs montanus). 



The Montana grayling, which originally existed only in tributaries 

 of the Missouri River above Great Falls, in the park occurs naturally 

 in the Madison and Gallatin Rivers and their branches, Grayling 

 Creek and Fan Creek, and in the Firehole River below the falls. It 

 is reported as sometimes abundant at the junction of the Gibbon and 

 Firehole Rivers and is said to ascend in summer as far as Firehole 

 Falls. It is the principal fish in the south fork of the Madison and 

 occurs also in the backwater of the Madison at the dam. This is a 

 most graceful and attractive fish, of shapely proportions and ex- 



