Page Twenty 



1931 — BIENNIAL REPORT — 1932 



expenses at the Miles City station witli 

 the exception of the custodian's salary 

 and deliver to the state 25 per cent of 

 the output each fall, besides taking care 

 of applications for the warm water 

 species in this state. This temporary 

 agreement may be changed by either 

 party on 60 days notice at the end of 

 the calendar year. This relieves the 

 state of considerable expense and with 

 the operation of the bass ponds in the 

 Flathead country it will be possible to 

 cover the distribution to a better ad- 

 vantage and at much less expense. 



One matter which merits mention in 

 this report is the transplanting of fish 

 by individuals with no thought or 

 knowledge as to what results may be. 

 One outstanding example of this is the 

 sunfish in Lake Ronan. This lake, long 

 a spawning field, was noted for its 

 rainbow and salmon fishing. Enthusi- 

 astic but misguided sportsmen con- 

 ceived the idea of planting sunfish 

 which were intended to provide sport 

 for women and children who preferred 

 fishing from the shore rather than a 

 boat. It was thought that the sunfish 

 would occupy shallow areas along the 

 shore line. From this small plant, the 

 sunfish increased at an unbelievable 

 rate and for a time threatened to de- 

 stroy the lake as a trout and salmon 

 habitat. Through measures being taken 

 to control this situation, it is believed 

 the trout and salmon will again pre- 

 dominate but only after the lake has 

 suffered a heavv loss due to the par- 

 tial depletion of the natural food sup- 

 ply. 



It Is the desire of this division to 

 abide by the wishes of the sportsmen 

 and especially in regards to the species 

 of fish planted in their local territor- 

 ies, but the indiscriminate planting of 

 fish by individuals tends to break down 

 the work being carried on for sports- 

 men as a group. 



Work of the state division of fisher- 

 ies during the biennlum has been 

 marked by splendid cooperation of out- 

 standing Montana agencies interested 

 In propagation and liberation of game 

 fish. To these Individuals and organi- 

 zations the department owes a debt of 

 sincere gratitude. Prominent among 

 fhem may be mentioned the Montana 

 Power Company, the Anaconda Copner 

 Mining Company which owns the site 

 of the great spawn-taking station at 

 Georgetown lake, the Tnlted States Pu- 

 reaii of Fisheries, the Forestry Depart - 

 ment and Its Individual employes, Dnde 

 Ranchers Association. I.arrv Hamilton 

 and the Piitle Anglers Club for keen In- 

 terest shown In radio broadcasts on fish 

 and game matters, and the many clubs 

 of sportsmen and anglers who have as- 

 sisted In fish distribution. 



H,\T(1IKI{Y ItEPOHT 

 Anncnndii and Flint Crpek 



Aside from painting the troughs, 

 HiandnrdB and niiunrlum and remodel- 

 ing for living (iniirlers, the room for- 

 nierlv used for a shop In tho bnlchery 

 building, no conHtrucllon eir Improve- 

 ment work was undertaken. Consid- 

 erable repair and reinodelliig work was 

 done at llie Flint Creek traps for the 

 piirpoHo of providing more room and 

 aeration for the fish during tin- spawn- 

 liig Hcnson. 



Big Timber 



The Improvement work consisted of 

 painting all troughs, standards, the in- 

 terior and the north end and roof of 

 the hatchery building. In 1931, a rear- 

 ing pond 75 feet by 150 feet was con- 

 structed on the grounds, the water 

 supply, of necessity, being the waste 

 water from the hatchery and concrete 

 ponds. Through a series of bottom 

 drains in the pond it is possible to 

 clean the bottom of all debris and 

 refuse without altering the water level. 

 There is ample room for additional 

 ponds, but it will require additional 

 water, which could in all probability 

 be obtained by laying drain tile in an 

 adjoining tract and picking up a sup- 

 ply of spring water. A building for 

 use as a garage, store-room and work 

 shop is badly needed. 



Emifrrnnt 

 All buildings were moved to the 

 present site In December, 1931, and 

 have since been repaired and rewired 

 and a sewage system installed. A new 

 floor was laid in the hatchery, new 

 trough standards constructed, troughs 

 and standards painted, and 900 feet of 

 drain tile laid. The station is now in 

 readiness for operation. 



Daly Hatohery at Hnmilton 

 This hatchery, largest in the state, 

 was constructed by Marcus Paly Jr., 

 in 191S and has been used by the de- 

 partment since 1922. Plans are now 

 under way for the department to ac- 

 quire this property and in such event, 

 rearing ponds should be constructed to 

 enable the fish being held until of a 

 larger size. 



Great Falls 

 Considerable improvement and repair 

 work was undertaken during the last 

 two years. The grounds were Im- 

 proved in keeping with the beautifica- 

 tion program In the Giant Springs area 

 by the Oreat Falls Park Board. A 

 large aquarium pool was constructed 

 on the hatchery grounds, the hatchery 

 and dwelling roofs were re-sblngled. 

 troughs and standards painted. The 

 iolntly owned pump was purchased 

 from the Park Poard and a new pump 

 purchased to replace the supply pump 

 which has been In constant use for the 

 last 10 years and which had become 

 badly worn. Two Iron supply pipes 

 from the spring to the hatchery and 

 ponds was replaced by one large 

 wooden pipe. A new sump Is being 

 constructed and preliminary work rela- 

 tive to the construction of three 40- 

 foot circular ponds being carried on. 

 This work Is being done In conjunc- 

 tion with tho Great Falls Chamber of 

 Commerce, Great Falls Park Poard and 

 the Relief Committee and will, when 

 completed, make Great Falls one of the 

 best eqiilpped stations in tho state. 

 LewlHlown 

 At the close of the operating season 

 In 1931, four wooden ponds wore added 

 to the battery of concrete ponds. A 

 concrete retaining wall was constructed 

 to permit the use of waste water from 

 tho concrete ponds In event of tem- 

 porary water shorlnge. Through the 

 eo(>)ierntlon of the Lowlstown Rod and 

 Gun Club, additional trees, heilgi' and 

 Hlirubbery were iilanted and adil much 

 to the appearance of the stallon. Tho 

 jireHi'ut living quartcfH, bi'lng of hIukIo 

 ciinstrucllon, are not doRlrnblo for yonr 



around use. It is recommended t^at 

 the present dwelling be converted Into 

 a garage and work shop and a new 

 dwelling constructed. Additional ponds 

 should also be constructed to permit 

 more efficient operation, especially in 

 view of the plan to operate this station 

 as a year around unit and enlarge upon 

 the distribution territory to relieve the 

 Big Timber and Great Falls stations. 



Libbr 



The construction of a hatchery, ga- 

 rage and dwelling at this new site was 

 completed In 1931. Six wooden ponds of 

 the type to be used In the future at 

 the hatcheries, were constructed. The 

 grounds were leveled and a lawn 

 planted, rock retaining wall constructed 

 around the ponds and cattle guard in- 

 stalled. The grounds comprise some 

 fiO acres, fenced. Concrete driveways 

 were laid to the garage, brick chimneys 

 built In the hatchery and all buildings 

 painted. A building consisting of a 

 refrigerator - storage room, grinding 

 room and room for storage of supplies 

 is badly needed. More ponds should be 

 added to permit more efficient opera- 

 tion. 



Station Creek— Poison 



A substantial settling box was con- 

 structed where the hatchery water Is 

 diverted from Station Creek and the 

 pipe line covered to a greater depth to 

 prevent freezing. A cellar was con- 

 structed under the dwelling, a cesspool 

 dug and a stairway built In the hatch- 

 ery. 



Rofli Creek -Phlllpsbnnr 



.\ new concrete footing foiindatlon 

 was put under this hatchery recently, 

 the troughs and standards painted and 

 the building put In first class shape 

 for next season's operations. 

 Orando 



The improvement work at this sta- 

 tion consisted of the construction of a 

 combination garage and Ice house. 

 Ponds are badly needed to promote n 

 more rapid growth of the fish, tho 

 hatchery water temperature being too 

 low for the most efficient operation. 

 Red Lodfre 



Considerable work needs to be done 

 at this station. It Is planned to attend 

 to this before the operation next spring. 

 Due to the building being much too 

 narrow and poorly lighted, the work 

 Is carried on iinder difficulties and it 

 Is planned to re-arrange the water 

 supply trough. Install additional win- 

 dows and paint all equipment. 

 Somen) 



This station is badly In n.-.d of re- 

 pairs, especially with regard to the 

 water supply system. Some work was 

 done along this line recently, but due 

 to tho lateness of the season It could 

 not be completed. Ponds of tho type 

 used at Mbby should ho constructed to 

 permit holding moro fish and place tho 

 station upon a more productive Imsls 



SAID I7.AAK WALTON 



"And an Ingeiilous Spaniard says, that 

 rlvom and the luhaliltaiils of the watery 

 element were made for wIho men to 

 contoniplnte, and foolK to piiHs by with- 

 out consideration . . for you may note, 

 that tho waters are Niilure's slorohouso. 

 In which she locks up her wonders." 



