MONTANA STATE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



MONTANA'S FISH HATCHERIES 



M' 



J. L. Kelly 



Member State Fish 



and Game 



Commission 



ONTANA'S growth in the esteem of sportsmen of 



the nation as an anglers' paradise has necessitated 



foresig-hted activity on the part of the state fish and 



game commission in establishing and maintaining fish 



hatcheries of sufficient capacity to keep streams and lakes 



stocked in satisfactory manner. It has been but a few 



years ago since Montana depended upon only three hatch- 



i eries for the fish supply to keep step with progress and 



^m avoid depletion of favorite waters. From this nucleus of 



^11 ^^^m three hatchei-ies the equipment has been increased until the 



^^^Lg^^^B state commission is now operating 14 separate hatcheries, 



^^^^^^ipP divided in the eastern and western districts. Hatcheries in 



^^^^^H|r the eastern district are under the supervision of John W. 



fll^HP Schofield, while those in the western district are operating 



under the care of Dr. I. H. Treece. 



Montana's hatchery problem is largely one of distribu- 

 tion. The Treasure state has perhaps more miles of trout 

 streams than any other state in the Union. Fingerlings must 

 be distributed over the vast area in such manner as will as- 

 sure results. Hence, the hatcheries have been constructed with a view to serving 

 the largest possible field in the shortest possible haul — all other elements equal. 

 State hatcheries are located at Somers, Emigrant, Anaconda, Great Falls, Big- 

 Timber, Missoula, east shore of Flathead lake. Lake Ronan, Libby, Lewistown, 

 Red Lodge, Philipsburg and Ovando. 



Fish experts estimate that the capacity of each hatchery trough is 50,000. 

 The Anaconda hatchery has 60 troughs with a capacity of 3,000,000; 

 Georgetown hatchery has 20 troughs and 1,000,000 capacity; the Philips- 

 burg hatchery on Rock creek has 10 troughs and a 500,000 capacity; 

 Hamilton (Daly's) has 80 troughs and a capacity of 4,000,000; Ovando 

 has 16 troughs, or 800,000 capacity; Missoula has 16 troughs, with 800,- ; 



000 capacity; Lake Ronan has 16 troughs, with 800,000 capacity; 

 Somers has 40 troughs, with 2,000,000 capacity; Libby has 12 

 troughs, with 600,000 capacity; Ashley lake has six troughs, or 

 300,000 capacity, and Flathead lake has 12 troughs, or 600,000 

 capacity. These stations are all in the district over which Dr. 

 Treece has supervision, under direction of the fish and game 

 commission. The spawning station at Georgetown lake last . 



year recorded a take of 37,275,000 native trout, 16,742,000 gray- 

 ling, 495,000 rainbow trout and 826,000 eastern 

 brook trout. Conley's lake produced a take of 217,- 

 000 brook trout. Lake Ronan produced about 4,- 

 500,000 rainbow. Bitter Root lake produced a take 

 of 1,000,000 natives, while Ashley lake produced - 



■^m 



