34 IMONTANA STATE FISH AND GAME COMMKSSIOX 



Egg-Eyer 



A radically different method of handling trout eggs up to the "eyed" 

 stage recently has been developed and thoroughly tested and now is installed 

 at the Hebgen lake spawning station. It has resulted in a decrease of infertile 

 eggs, less trouble with fungus and the possibility of eyeing 12,000,000 on the 

 same floor space as 250,000 previously were eyed. 



This new system does not use as large a volume of water as is necessary 

 when hatching eggs in the conventional manner. In appearance the eyer re- 

 sembles a long rack or filing cabinet. It is about six feet high, 16 inches 

 wide and 20 feet long. Standard egg trays, 14 inches square, are used as 

 fillers. Each tray holds 32 ounces of eggs and each stack within this cabinet 

 contains 72 trays and is supplied with a stream of water no larger than a 

 lead pencil. The small volume of water required to operate this unit is de- 

 rived from a small well and is delivered to the eyer with a centrifugal pump 

 and a small air-cooled one horsepower motor. 



The method promises to be of great value at the Hebgen station as it 

 generally is impossible to transport the spawn to the hatcheries at the time 

 of egg collections in the early spring because of adverse weather conditions 

 and blocked highways. It usually is a matter of almost a month after spawn- 

 ing operations are started before this station can be contacted by truck or 

 car; the crew operating there being taken in by a ski-equipped airplane. 



Floating steel rack sections have been devised by the personnel. These 

 racks are hinged on the bottom to the foot log or mud sill. To the upper 

 portion of the racks are attached a series of wide boards so inclined that 

 the current flowing around them produces a lifting effect which in turn holds 

 the upper portion of the steel racks above the surface of the water. Float- 

 ing ice or other debris coming in contact with the racks submerges the upper 

 portion allowing the ice or debris to float past without injury to the trap 

 structure. This feature is of considerable value during periods of severe cold 

 weather when there is a quantity of slush ice running. 



HATCHERIES. ^ 



Anaconda and Georgetown 



With the cooperation of the WPA, considerable improvement has been 

 made at Flint creek which undoubtedly increased the effectiveness of the 

 traps. This work consisted of creating a new channel for the creek below 

 the traps to the lake and resulted in an increased current or water movement 

 to attract the spawning native trout. 



Major improvements were made to the Anaconda hatchery dwelling, among 

 them being the construction of concrete walks on the grounds. The large 

 earth ponds were re-diked and rock-faced. Concrete runways were laid in 

 the bottom of each to facilitate the rescue of fingerling trout for distribution. 



Improvements also were made to the outlet piping system of the hatchery 

 and considerable painting was done. This station is in need of a dwelling 

 for the assistant and has sufficient water to warrant the installation of at 

 least 12 circular wood ponds of eight-foot diameter. These have proven highly 

 successful at other stations. 



Big Timber 



Improvements of a permanent nature were made to the hatchery build- 

 ing by the station personnel. These consisted of tearing out the badly rotted 



