16 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 
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 through 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 Bechler 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 
erasses, 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 
aes waters, certain restrictions have become necessary, and it is 
elieved that anglers generally will be in fullsympathy with the pro- 
tective measures that the park authorities find 1t 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-cultural operations to prevent the 
depletion of park waters. 
Following are the fishing regulations now in force: 
1. Fishing with 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, 1s prohibited. 
2. Fishing in particular waters may be susperded by the superintendent. 
3. All fish hooked less than 8 inches long shall be carefully handled with moist 
hands and returned 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 belt-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 Grayuine (Thymallus 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, Graylin 
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- 
