10 



MONTANA STATE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



has been followed. New hatcheries have been located at desired points and the 

 state is now operating 14 individual fish hatcheries. These plants ai'e being con- 

 ducted under efficient management. 



The importation of Hungarian partridges and Chinese or Ringneck pheasants 

 has been consistently continued. With the cooperation of farmers and sportsmen 

 generally who have watched the development of these protected birds with more 

 than passing interest, the imported game birds have multiplied rapidly. Thy 

 have increased to such an extent that it is possible an open season may be de- 

 clared in some localities. 



The Hungarian partridge, recognized by northwestern sportsmen as the little 

 feathered fox of the fields among game birds, has demonstrated that he can thrive 

 in Montana climes, while his multi-colored Ringneck friend has spread his kind 

 in like manner where they have been protected. 



With the surplus accumulated in the fish and game fund, the commission will 

 be enabled to continue its wide-spread activities during the coming biennium. 

 This fund has been built up by the sportsmen themselves. Not one dollar of tax 

 money is paid by Montana residents for the support of this work and the depart- 

 ment is entirely self sustaining. Money derived from the sale of licenses, from 

 fines, the sale of confiscated game and guns, beaver permits, beaver tags and 

 similar sources goes to pay for the work of the commission. 



The growth of the fund means the growth of endeavor. It will enable the 

 commission to take steps fui'ther to advance the protection and propagation of 

 fish and game. It will make possible the construction of additional rearing 

 ponds, the planting by trained fish hatchery employes of most of the fingerlings 

 raised in our hatcheries, in the lakes and streams of the state. It will enable the 

 commission to complete construction of a pond culture station at Miles City for 

 the production of fish peculiarly suitable to the waters of the easteiTi portion 

 of Montana. The flooding of dry lake beds will be made possible, in cases where 

 they may be filled by artificial diversion of water from irrigation ditches or 

 streams. This means attracting greater numbers of migratory water fowl and 

 better sport duiing the open season for sportsmen who are making work of the 

 depai-tment possible. 



During the last biennium there has been a noticeable increase in the number 

 4. of our big game animals. Deer have increased to great extent in practi- 



''■^ cally all localities, esi)ecially in the counties where only buck deer are 



permitted to be killed. 



Elk have been constantly increasing. This fact is especially true in 

 districts where great herds of these splendid animals graze. Approxi- 

 mately 700 elk were killed during the open season of 1926 on 

 the upper Yellowstone river adjoining Yellowstone National 

 Park, yet this by no means equalled the annual increase in the 

 size of the herd and steps may yet have to be taken to diminish 

 the herd or provide enlarged feeding grounds. Deep snows and 

 cold weather force the elk out of the protected area within the 

 park. 



Large numbers of the herd that summers in Yellowstone Park 

 drift out on the West (Jallatin for winter feed. 



The herd, heretofore estimated at 1500 head, now 



numbers close to 4,000, according to the best esti- 



*. mates of game wardens, park officials and forestry 



- experts. The Sun River hei-d and those on the south 



