perishable fish foods. A call for bids for the construction of similar re- 

 frigerated storage rooms at the Anaconda, Great Falls, Lewistown, Ham- 

 ilton, Big Timber and Emigrant hatcheries was made. The Commission 

 rejected the bids which were received for construction of these storage 

 rooms for the reason that the bids were in excess of the amount allotted 

 for construction. Another call for bids will be made when conditions are 

 more favorable. 



The Fish and Game Department with the cooperation of the Phillips 

 County Wildlife Association built a hatchery at Nelson reservoir for 

 hatching walleyed pike. The planting of a portion of the output of this 

 hatchery into Nelson reservoir, together with the seining operations to 

 remove carp which is carried on each year, should result in greatly im- 

 proved fishing in this reservoir. 



Adjacent to Nelson reservoir, the McNeill Slough was also developed 

 by the department and the cooperative group to form two lakes which 

 are now favorable bodies of water for Rainbow Trout. 



The Warm Water Fish Cultural Station located at Miles City is 

 operated by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service in cooperation with the 

 Montana Fish and Game Department. The planting of streams, lakes and 

 reservoirs in the eastern part of the state with warm water fish from this 

 hatchery has provided good fishing for many people who formerly were 

 denied the sport and recreation of fishing unless they traveled to other 

 areas. 



Fort Peck Lake on the Missouri River is rapidly coming into its own 

 as a favored fishing area, and now provides good trout fishing as well as 

 numerous pike, catfish, bass and perch. 



FISHERIES IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM 



A fish improvement program is under way which will be enlarged as 

 funds, material and trained personnel become available. It is recognized 

 that habitat improvement should go hand in hand with fish propagation 

 and distribution. The program is divided into fields of endeavor as 

 follows: 



1. The building of concrete rearing ponds of the raceway type at 

 those hatcheries which have a sufficient flow of water will make it pos- 

 sible to rear more fish to yearling size, give a better control of fish at 

 all times, and allow grading of fish for size, thereby cutting to a mini- 

 mum the loss by cannibalism and disease. 



2. Program of stream and lake improvement which will increase 

 natural food production and provide a better game fish habitat in many 

 waters. 



3. The development of a rough fish control program. Unless this 

 control is made a major part of our fish program, many of the waters 

 of the state may become less productive of game fish. In the minds of a 

 great many people, the solution of our fishing problems is simply the 

 introduction into the waters of more fish. It is now realized that it is 

 necessary to improve the fish food conditions in the wateis themselves 

 and also to reduce or i-emove the rough fish which are contaminating so 

 many waters. It is necessary to reduce as much as possible rough fish 



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