24 MONTANA STATE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



Fish PLinting 



A very definite progress has been made the past two years in fish planting 

 with considerable yet to be done. Experiments have shown that planting fish 

 properly is equally as important as rearing fish. Efforts are being made to 

 plant the different species when the natural food in the streams and lake is at 

 its peak. For years the native cutthroats have been planted in the fall after 

 every effort had been made to rear them to a suitable size before liberation. 

 Discouraging results attended this method and it was demonstrated that, 

 especially with the natives which are planted in the higher elevations, it was 

 not the size of the fingerlings when planted, but the time of the year which was 

 the big factor in their development. Now, all natives not being held over the 

 wint/^r months are liberated as soon as possible after "swimming up" and it will 

 result in a decided improvement. 



This is not intended an an argument against raising larger fish as all recog- 

 nize the value of that in certain cases, but the cutthroats require planting when 

 the natural food supply is abundant in the upper reaches of the streams. This 

 may be borne out by the fact that in all waters where natives are found to be 

 thriving — the new stock is introduced in the form of fry early in the season — 

 Georgetown lake, Ashley lake. Swan river, Flathead lake and others. 



Recently a new type tank unit for use in distributing fish was assembled 

 at Apaconda. This consists of a tank 42 inches by 48 inches and 26 inches deep 

 with water pump, powered by a separate gasoline engine, which takes water 

 from the bottom of the tank and returns it through several jets at the top, 

 thus providing sufficient aeration to cari-y fish any distance. This will result 

 in a reduced cost of distribution as it is possible to cari-y the equivalent of 60 

 10-galJ')n cans, formerly used, and with a light pick-up truck instead of the heavier 

 trucks now in use at most hatcheries. This is a big improvement over the 

 oxygen system of aeration and it is exiiected to outfit each hatchery with one 

 of these units as the revenue will permit. 



Stream Improvement 



Much has been written and told of the value of stream improvement. There 

 is no question that there is certain merit to this work. It is a very broad field 

 of activity and one which will require careful study before undertaking on a 

 large scale. In ordW to obtain some accurate information as to tlie value of 

 this ^^'ork, the U. S, Forest Service undertook an extt-nsive program in the 

 Sand Ba.sin on the fWest Fork of Kock creek near Philipsburg during 1!).'J4. 

 He?"e were installed log dams, deflectors and covers which are designed to improve 

 the conditions in the stream throught providing cover for the fi.sh, deflecting 

 waters to create pools, removing silt and debris from gravel bars to improve 

 conditions for n.itur.il propagation, and to impound waters to create and maintain 

 more desirable water temperatures. A careful check was made of the number 

 of fish, the abundance and kinds of natural trout food present and otlier 

 factors relating to the experiment. At the end (»f a four-year ix'ricxl another 

 check will be made wliieh should establish the value of such work. Iiefore a 

 stream improvement iirograni is undertaken it would be well to cla.ssify the 

 strehms of the slate. 



At present, fish are being planted in many streams where conditions for one 

 reason or another, are decidedly unfavorable for their development. It should 

 be (leternilned whether a p.irlicular stream is of nion- value tor agriculture, for 



