Flathead Fish Hatchery-Distribution Reaches Millions 



Eli Wilton, in charge of the Flathead Fish Hatchery, Somers, Montana, makes 

 the following report to the State Fish and Game Commission, of operations for the 

 season ending December 1, 1918: 



We have had quite a successful year, having distributed some four million 

 four hundred thousand trout fry in the waters of Montana, to say nothing of the 

 distribution of five hundred thousand Lake Superior white-fish and about one 

 million Montana white-fish. We have at present about five hundred thousand 

 Eastern Brook trout eggs in the hatchery taken from local lakes and private ponds, 

 also about fifty thousand blue-back salmon eggs taken from salmon seined at Lake 

 Ronan, and one hundred and twenty-five thousand Montana white-fish eggs secured 

 at Bigfork. 



The Eastern Brook eggs were principally secured from Mr. A. E. Johnson's 

 private pond at Fortine, Mont., these eggs have not been officially measured yet 

 so can not give exact number, but as soon as they befome eyed they will be 



Scene on Flathead Lake 



measured. The remaining eggs were secured from Eastern Brook trout seined upon 

 the spawning bed in Lake Ronan, this being our first attempt at securing eggs in 

 this manner. 



Quite a number of Eastern Brook were taken some weighing three pounds 

 but we were a little late and some had already spawned; another year it should 

 yield better results. 



Blue-Back Salmon Surprise. 



Upon pulling the seine we were greatly surprised to find many bright red fish. 

 The males were very broad and rather short, with high hump backs and a ferocious 

 looking set of teeth, the female being smaller and meek looking fish not unlike the 

 native trout in shape and looks, the average weight being about one pound. Upon 

 close examination of the fish and comparison with description given in manual 

 (63) 



