Thompson. — Irrigation and Trout Culture 109 



gated in them, but more through the large supplies of 

 spawn obtained from them to fill private, state and national 

 hatcheries, later to enter into the general distribution. In 

 addition, I might mention that the filling of these reservoirs 

 during the spring months tends to lessen the flood con- 

 ditions at that time, while the turning into the streams 

 during the summer months of this stored water preserves a 

 more equal stage during the angling season. The fishing 

 is further improved by the escape from the reservoirs of a 

 large number of matured trout which pass out through the 

 headgates with the water. 



Summing up the situation and applying this analysis to 

 the query propounded : We find that irrigation in the earlier 

 stages and under primitive methods is decidedly detrimental 

 to trout culture, though some of the more injurious feat- 

 ures are susceptible of improvement. In the more advanced 

 ( ir perennial stage, with the numerous large and small 

 reservoirs storing the flood waters and releasing them as 

 required, we are glad to be able to reverse the verdict and 

 find that irrigation is not detrimental to trout culture. In 

 fact when these reservoirs are utilized as great fish-cultural 

 preserves, then irrigation becomes a most important factor 

 in the upbuilding of fish culture and the improvement of 

 angling in the inter-mountain country. 



Irrigation and fish culture have long been considered 

 as being antagonistic; the growth of the one was supposed 

 to mean the decline of the other. My personal observation 

 disproves this, hence I am only too glad to sound an opti- 

 mistic note and declare to you that these interests are har- 

 monious though not always identical. The present mar- 

 vellous development of irrigational projects in the west 

 therefore becomes an occasion for sincere congratulation 

 from fish culturist and angler, as well as to our more pro- 

 saic brethren who till the soil, since it carries with it won- 

 derful possibilities for fish-cultural expansion. 



In recent years, we have heard much of "conservation" 

 and "reclamation." Great as are these themes and fraught 



