some basis for starting a unified program. In 

 every case it was pointed out to these groups that 

 this was certainly not the last word in fisheries 

 management, but that it would form a basis for 

 more intensive study and better developed plans 

 in the future. 



In the determining of the production capacity 

 of each hatchery unit, the production of past years 

 was not used as a basis, because heretofore all 

 of the hatcheries had been required to produce a 

 great number of fish. In almost every unit, the 

 production was up to the maximum in numbers 

 and even exceeded what they should have hand- 

 led in order to care for the fish adequately. In 

 the preparation of these plans the production ca- 

 pacities were determined by the numbers of fish 

 that they should logically produce, based on their 

 trough and pond capacity. In determining these 

 capacities, diagrammatic maps were drawn of the 

 hatchery plants, and then scrutinized carefully to 

 determine (1) the kinds and sizes of fish that they 

 should produce, and (2) the species of fish thai 

 were needed in order to adequately stock their 

 territory with desirable kinds. 



The hatchery units were evaluated to deter- 

 mine (1) how many 6-inch fish it would be possible 

 and desirable to produce, based on the needs of 

 the territory, (2) how many 3-inch fish were neces- 

 sary, and (3) how many 1 '/2-inch fish should be 

 produced. 



An allocation for each stream and lake to be 

 stocked was then made from the above totals, 

 based on comparative needs. The various species 

 of fish were determined from the contacts that 

 were made with the interested groups and agen- 

 cies, based on their knowledge of the most de- 

 sirable species in the different drainages. 



Since all studies that have been made in re- 

 gard to survival show that an increase occurs 

 when large fish are planted, it was the thought 

 of everyone concerned that as many, large fish 

 should be produced as possible, consistent with 

 the facilities and funds available. 



It was found, in one case, that a hatchery 

 that had been producing on an average of two 

 and one-half million fish annually, of which only 

 approximately 5 per cent had been 3 inches or 

 over, could, by cutting the figures to 1,600,000, 

 produce 40 per cent of the fish 3 inches or over. 



It was found also that merely by the forma- 

 tion of these districts and the reduced travel re- 



sulting therefrom, combined with the reduced 

 food cost of propagating the large numbers of 

 small fish, a saving of approximately 20 per cent 

 would result, and this saving on car travel and 

 other items could be used for the rearing of the 

 larger fish called for in the program. 



The primary fish species that are propagated 

 in the State of Montana are rainbow, cutthroat, 

 Loch Leven, eastern brook, and grayling, in the 

 order named. The majority of the waters of the 

 State of Montana originally were populated with 

 cutthroat trout, but due to the sweeping changes 

 that have been made by man's influence, this 



Montana's largest 

 g-ame fisli ■ — 

 Mackinaw trout 

 from Whitefish 

 lake. 



[29] 



