MONTANA STATE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



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J. W. SCHOFIELD 



MONTANA'S FISH HATCHERIES 



By .TOUX \V. SCHOFIELD 



Firhl .Issi.shiiit ill ClKinjf of Fish Hatcheries. Eiistcrn Dislrict 



FISH cultural work in Montana, as in other states, is in 

 its infancy, yet, taking into consideration the enormous 

 size of the Treasure State and its comparatively sparse 

 population, Montana heads the list in the number of fish 

 hatcheries operated and the egg output taken. Sportsmen 

 of the state and the northwest should be proud of the rapid 

 and substantial growth of the fisheries department, especally 

 when it is realized that the hatcheries now located at Emi- 

 grant, Big Timber, Red Lodge, Lewistown and Great Falls, 

 which are included in the eastern district, were not built pre- 

 vious to 1919. In that year the Emigrant hatchery was 

 constructed and operated. In 1922 the other four were put 

 in operation and since then have been successfully operated. 

 During my ten years of fisheries work in Montana I 

 have seen a great many developments and changes, the 

 most notable of these being the attitude and cooperation of 

 sportsmen and rod and gun clubs. Ten years ago when an 

 applicant was advised of the arrival of a shipment of fish, 

 it was a toss-up whether we were met or not. Today, upon arrival of a shipment, 

 the "gang" meets us with cars enough to take out ten times the fish we have. 



I hope that every sportsman reading this article will take this advice to heart 

 and guide himself accordingly. The fish delivered to applicants cost money, 

 which is your money. You fellows desire results and so do we, so, when you go 

 out to plant a shipment of fish, may I suggest that you leave your fishing tackle 

 and rod at home. You cannot combine business with pleasure and get good 

 results. Be sure to take from half an hour to an hour to temper the water in 

 the cans before planting the fish. This is necessary, and if you leave 

 your fishing outfits at home, you will give more time to proper planting. 

 If possible, get the fish up to, or near, the headwaters of the stream. 

 Then, if possible, locate a small spring creek or quiet stream that flows 

 into the main creek and plant your fish there. If more time is taken in 

 planting and looking up good peaces to plant, the results will 

 be w'ell worth your time and effort. 



No doubt you all realize the commercial value of the power 

 dams constructed on the Madison and Missouri rivers by the 

 Montana Power company. Very few realize to what an extent 

 these dams improve fishing. On the Madison these dams flooded 

 much land and by so doing made possible an abundance of 

 aquatic life and aquatic growth for fish food. On the Missouri 

 the dams serve as settling tanks which clear the 

 water, thereby making it more habitable for trout. 

 This settling also gives aquatic life and growth a 

 better chance to increase. In five years from now, 



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trout fishing on the Missouri will be as good as on 



