8 



REPORT OF MONTANA FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



the Missouri river and are very plentiful. St. Mary's Lake in Glacier 

 Park contains the succulent Great Lakes Whitefish and Mackinaw 

 Trout. These fish have been planted in Flathead Lake and it is hoped 

 this large body of water may be made to furnish commercial fishing 

 in the near future with a view to furnishing our people with food fish 

 in the markets. 



A most interesting and successful experiment has been carried out 

 in tlie introduction of Chinook Salmon into our inland lakes. In Lake 

 Ronan these fish have been taken weighing 15 pounds. They have been 

 planted in many other lakes with good results. 



Black Bass and Sun Fish, also Yellow Perch have been introduced 

 to some of our waters successfully. The demand for more fishing 

 occasioned by the advent of the automobile, and the consequent desire 

 of the city dweller to get out in the open has drawn heavily on the 

 resources of the Fish and Game Department. If we are to supply this 

 demand, more adequate funds will be needed. It can be done, but it 

 takes men, equipment and money. 



I wish to mention the great importance of protection for our fur 

 bearers. Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of furs can be pro- 

 duced in Montana with no investment of capital, only protection is 

 needed. Muskrats are becoming scarce; Marten almost extinct in some 

 places; beaver can be protected when not interfering with irrigation. 



Bear, I believe, should only be trapped in cases where they are stock 

 killers. They are a very good game animal and should have some 

 protection. 



Our department is non-political, our Commission is appointed by the 

 Governor and is composed of three republicans and two democrats. We 

 receive no appropriations of money and are supported entirely by the 

 receipts from license sales, fines, confiscations and the sale of furs 

 received from State Trappers. 



The propagation and distribution of fish can be increased to almost 

 any amount if the funds to employ trained men and to purchase the 

 needed equipment are placed at our disposal. 



With our natural setting in the mountains, the great areas of game 

 cover and the matchless streams and lakes for the home of great 

 numbers of fish, no good citizen should hesitate in making a great 

 effort to perpetuate and increase our wild life resources. 



