much badly needed equipment will be readily available so that the 

 Fisheries Program can be expanded to meet the increased fishing pres- 

 sures that are bound to aiise in the near future. 



At the present time 12 State hatcheries are in operation and these, 

 in addition to the three Fish and Wildlife Service hatcheries also 

 operating- within this State, have combined output of approximately 

 20,000,000 trout of various sizes and have the responsibility of main- 

 taining adequate fishing in over 25,000 miles of streams and rivers and 

 1,500 lakes. This is indeed a heavy burden to place upon such few hatch- 

 eries, especially when we consider that a number of the plants are of 

 relatively small size and limited water supplies and lacking the fa- 

 cilities for rearing pond expansion which is necessary if we hope to 

 produce larger numbers of 5 to 7-inch trout which will be absolutely 

 necessary to maintain satisfactory fishing conditions when travel re- 

 strictions are lifted. 



It would be our recommendation that additional sites and facili- 

 ties be acquired and an expansion program developed which would 

 result in increasing the output of 5 to 7-inch fish at least 100 per cent 

 and if possible, even greater. However, without the facilities and the 

 funds to inaugurate an expanded program of the proportions mentioned 

 above, it will undoubtedly be necessary to institute restricted fisheries 

 management policies such as shortened seasons and reduced creel limits 

 if satisfactory fish populations are to be maintained. 



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