MONTANA STATE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



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W. M. BiCKPORD 



I FLATHEAD LAKE AND THE WHITEFISH | 



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THROUGH the activities of the Montana state fish and 

 game coniniission the common lake whitefish (coreao- 

 nus clupeiformus) whic-h have gained fame as a Lake 

 Superior product, have been successfully planted in Flathead 

 Lake. One variety of the species is found generally in the 

 United States. The adult fish develops a fleshy hump at 

 the shoulders which makes the head look small when com- 

 pared to other fish. It belongs to the same species (corego- 

 nis) as our "pea nose" and is found most frequently in the 

 chain of Great Lakes, more especially in Lake Superior, 

 from which fact arises the common name. There are few 

 table fishes its equal. Many of the early French explorers, 

 Marquette, Charlevoix, and Champlain, who for months at 

 a time depended upon this fish for their sole food, bear tes- 

 timony to its excellence. 



The whitefish feeds upon crustacians and the larvae of 

 water insects. It spawns in November and December on 

 rocky shoals. 

 Much interest has been manifested in the result of the work of the state com- 

 mission in planting the Lake Superior whitefish in Flathead Lake. From the 

 shipments that have so far been made, the result is highly satisfactory. While 

 it appears that no great quantity of the fish are taken in any one haul, results 

 are great enough to satisfy the persons engaged in the work. So far as the con- 

 suming public is concerned the vei'dict is unanimous that the propagated fish are 

 as fine as any sold. 



It is conceded that fish that have not been frozen but only kept at a low tem- 

 perature to prevent deterioration are better than the ones which have 

 been kept fit for the table by freezing. The whitefish from Flathead 

 lake can be delivered to any part of Montana in perfectly good condi- 

 tion with no other precaution than keeping in a cool place. 



The question of opening the lake to commercial fishing has been 

 much discussed. In the mind of the writer the action taken by 

 the state fish and game commission is right. The lake has 

 been successfully stocked for five years. The effort to produce 

 the variety is no longer in doubt. Undoubtedly the fish first 

 planted have reached the natural limit of growth. Those first 

 planted have more than reached the spawning age, and if a 

 spawning ground has been found by the fish there can be no 

 doubt about the production of eggs and at least a partial re- 

 stocking of the lake in a natural way. 



The effort in the future, then, will be so to aid 

 natural reproduction that the quantity of fish taken 

 may be gradually increased from year to year. 





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