14 REPORT OF MONTANA FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



Closed Fishifig; Season Has Approval of Real Sportstna/i 



« — m 



Missoula, Montana, December 20th. 

 Mr. C. A. Jakways, 



State Game Warden, 

 Helena, Montana. 



Dear Sir: 



To my mind the most outstanding feature of your department is the 

 thorough preparations which you have made for future effective work. 

 Whenever a large enterprise is undertaken or when much territory is 

 to be covered the preliminary steps are most important, and if wisely 

 taken usually result in the hoped-for results. The activities of your 

 department meet the approval of all good sportsmen. 



Some criticism of an order of the Commission establishing a closed 

 season for fishing has been heard, some newspaper comment adverse 

 thereto published, but upon the whole the order has met with ap- 

 proval by those having the most experience and knowledge of various 

 streams. To anyone who has seen the many fishermen along the 

 streams, the automobiles parked in great numbers even in remote and 

 places difficult of access, must realize that some steps must be taken 

 to curb the taking of fish at all times and all seasons. When it is con- 

 sidered that during the spawning season for the native trout, that is 

 during the early spring, that in their progress up the streams to spawn 

 that they will congregate in large numbers in still places, in pools 

 below rapids, in fact in all places where a resting place may be found, 

 and that in such places may be caught in large numbers, the reason 

 for such restriction of spring fishing may find warrant. When it is 

 further taken into account that one fish so taken may deposit as many 

 as three thousand eggs many of which will result in a mature fish in 

 a year or two, few can find a good reason for revoking such an order. 



The winter season when fishing through the ice is indulged in is 

 just as important for at this season and at this time the fish are 

 easily caught in large numbers on almost any kind of a line or bait. 

 There is no sport in tliis sort of fishing, and while it supplies a large 

 amount of food to those who may think they need it, the result so far 

 as summer fishing is concerned is disastrous. I have no doubt that 

 with a system of rearing ponds in connection with your hatcheries, 

 and with the large number of fry produced each year, that you will 

 be able to gradually improve fishing in most of the streams stocked 

 if the closed season is continued. In any event your efforts should be 

 encouraged by all those who go fishing, all who appreciate the value 

 to Montana which the streams and lakes have. 



The growth of outing places, the private cabins along lakes and 

 streams, all testify to an awakened interest in the out-of-doors. To 

 all of those wlio have such places the fishing is of prime interest, 

 while many do not fish at all there are none who would not welcome 

 a mess of trout for the dinner tal)lt> nor scoff at tlio one who caught 

 them. 



I can not speak for other places, but in Missoula the loi-al Anglers 

 Association is doing good work, not only in keeping interest alive in 

 the stocking of streams, but in the active work of stocking. Kvery 

 stream has its share of attention, and every reasonable request made 

 by an individual is given attention. The interest shown by the officers 

 and members is not casual and occasional, it is earnest in the first 

 place and continuous in the iH>xt. The members are always "on the 



