MONTANA STATE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 21 



to perpetuate fishing. Tliis scope has been broadened considerably during the 

 past 10 years witli results showing the value and necessity of instituting a 

 program of even greater range. Fish culture, as practiced, is not sufficient to 

 maintain fishing on account of closely related factors, apart from fish cultural 

 activities, such as water conservation, water uses, irrigation ditcli losses, 

 pollution and stream improvement which must be given consideration in order to 

 obtain best results. It should be borne in mind that there is danger of developing 

 one or more of these factors at the expense of another of equal or greater 

 importance. 



Rather than endeavor to broaden the scope of activities to include the related 

 factors at the expense of the hatchery operation, means should be made avail- 

 able to finance this work independent of the amount necessary for hatcheiy 

 operations. If not, there is grave danger of the available revenue being pro- 

 rated to the extent that no phase will be properly developed. With the depart- 

 ment rcA'enue returning to the 1928 and 1929 level, much of this work could be 

 undertaken but it is not possible with present revenue. If more thought would 

 be given to the importance of developing this natural resource, more revenue 

 would be provided, by, not only sportsmen, but, by everyone interested in Mon- 

 tana's welfare. 



Egg Collections 



Montana is in an enviable position in having such valuable spawning fields 

 which .supply the game fish eggs for the hatcheries. Georgetown, second to 

 none, showed a decrease in 1933 due to overfishing by anglers out of employ- 

 ment at Butte, Anaconda and Philipsburg and to the extreme low water in the 

 Flint creek drainage. It is a most difficult problem to exercise proper control 

 over the fish population in Georgetown lake for the reason there are numerous 

 spanning areas in the lake where large numbers of trout spawn under natui-al 

 conditions. During normal years with Flint creek carrying its average flow 

 a larger percentage of spawners, attracted by the current into the lake, migrate 

 up-stream and are taken in the traps, while during years of extreme drought 

 a larger percentage spawn on the beds in the lake. 



Thus, it is not possible to use the total eggs collected in any one season as 

 a guide for restocking, but consideration must be given to all factors having a 

 bearing upon the reproduction. There is danger of over-stocking a lake such as 

 Georgetown and, in fact, it has shown indications several times of being over- 

 ix)pulated. This lake is one of the department's most valuable assets. The 

 egg collection the spring of 1934 showed a decided improvement and with return 

 of normal weather conditions it is exjiected the egg take will again approximate 

 that of the banner years. 



A matter of grave concern is the presence of the common suckers in George- 

 town. These fish were never present until 1926 when literally thousands of their 

 fry were found in the creek which connects Silver and Georgetown lakes. It 

 was not possible to remove them, on account of their size, until 1933 when 48 

 tons weie removed by "plant nets" .set in the lake. The spring of 1934, 74 tons, 

 by actual measurement, were removed and it is planned to continue this work 

 in order to retain favorable conditions for trout. 



To further secure the supply of native cutthroat eggs, plans were made to 

 develop Ashley lake in the Kalispell district. To ascertain the number and 

 qualitj of eggs available in 1932, traps were installed and 295,000 eggs collected. 



