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MONTANA STATE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



BEHIND THE SCENES WITH MONTANA'S 

 PROGRESSIVE FISH PROGRAM 



By ELMER G. PHILLIPS 



Superintendent of Fisheries 



'ONTANA'S thousands of miles of fishing waters, the envy of 

 ylj virtually every state in the union, are well fortified for they 

 have behind them splendid facilities for propagation and sci- 

 entifically-trained men to handle them. 



The activities of the Fisheries Division are essentially that 

 of providing fish for stocking and restocking the public waters 

 of this state. Some are obtained by rescue or salvage but the many millions 

 required to keep pace with Montana's increasing number of fishermen are 

 hatched and reared in state hatcheries. 



This biennium has been one of unusual activity as the problem of main- 

 taining a fishing yield in the face of heavy and growing demands and, at 

 the same time, insufficient revenues, requires application of all that can be 

 learned along lines of protective measures, propagation, and environmental 

 factors influencing production and growth. 



The aim is not only to main- 

 tain but to increase this important 

 natural resource wherever poss- 

 ible. Important progress has been 

 made in the various phases of this 

 work, including improvements in 

 the technique of artificial propa- 

 gation and distribution which will 

 be described in more detail fur- 

 ther on in this report. 



Some progress has been made 

 in the broader problem of fisheries 

 management as related to stream 

 and lake which determine future 

 stocking policies. Much remains 

 to be done but it is intended to complete surveys of all major watersheds as 

 fast as possible to determine prevailing temperatures, chemical analysis, food 

 conditions, fertility of surrounding terrain, pollution, if any, and many other 

 factors which will have a bearing on trout growth and will assist in accurately 

 estimating the rate of growth that can be expected and the numbers the par- 

 ticular lake or stream can be most advantageously stocked with to obtain 

 the best results for the sportsmen. 



Considerable improvement to several of the physical plants has been made 

 possible through the Works Progress Administration. However, most of the 

 plants are badly in need of additional housing facilities for the assistants and 

 too much stress cannot be laid upon the importance of this requirement. As 

 conditions now exist the hatchery and ponds are unattended should the fore- 

 man be called away after working hours. In these hatcheries and ponds are 

 probably millions of small trout representing many thousands of dollars of 

 the sportsmen's money, some act of vandalism or stoppage of the water 



Seven and a half pounds of figrliting Rainbow 



trout taken with light taclcle out of the 



Stillwater river near Columbus. 



