Another type of rough-fish control is in progress that has value 

 in a twofold manner. The department has provided a crew for rough 

 fish removal which is working in both eastern and western Montana. 

 Removal of i-ough fish leaves more room in the water for game fish. 

 The many tons of carp, buffalo, suckers, squawfish and others can be 

 used for trout food at stations equipped with cold-storage facilities. 

 It is expected that this doubly valuable program will in the years to 

 come mean cheaper trout for waters not overcrowded with non-game 

 fish. 



The fisheries division of the State Fish and Game Department has 

 an integrated program with each part dependent upon the other. Hatch- 

 ery production, constantly modernized for greater output and faster and 

 more effective distribution, is and will continue to be a keystone. Im- 

 provement of waters and management of those waters to provide the 

 best habitat for both fish naturally hatched and those from hatcheries 

 is a definite part of the established program. Improving fishing is the 

 ultimate goal, and the biological work is designed to find the needed 

 answers so that effort and money will not be wasted. From facts 

 assembled, fishing seasons can be set more wisely, plantings made more 

 accurately and economically and lake and stream improvement can be 

 used to prepare the best home life for fish before they are planted. This 

 program will mean better fishing in more places at less expense per 

 fish in the creel. 



LAW ENFORCEMENT 



An increase in the number of regular deputy game wardens from 

 27 to 42 was authorized by the Thirtieth Legislative Assembly. This 

 increase has resulted in better patrol coverage and law enforcement 

 throughout the state. A total of 1,134 game law and regulation violators 

 were convicted during the biennium as compared to 640 for the previous 

 two-year period, an increase of 77 per cent. 



Recognizing the need for greater co-ordination and better super- 

 vision of our expanded warden force the Commission established seven 

 warden supervisory districts by dividing the state into units to corre- 

 spond with districts previously established for the purpose of obtaining 

 game censuses. 



During the period for which this report is written three of the seven 

 supervisory districts have been set up: District 1 with headquarters at 

 Kalispell, District 2 with headquarters at Missoula, and District 6 with 

 headquarters temporarily assigned at Malta. In the districts which have 

 been activated better co-ordination and supervision of personnel have 

 been possible, resulting in a more efficient district organization to cope 

 with special law enforcement problems and seasonal peak loads of 

 investigation or routine work. 



A warden training school held in Helena from September 8 to 12, 

 1947 resulted in a better informed staff of game wardens. The compre- 

 hensive training course in law enforcement was conducted by special 

 agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The success of the school 

 indicates the advisability of similar future sessions. 



A combined law enforcement handbook and set of instructions has 

 since been furnished to each deputy game warden. Sections of the 

 Montana codes relative to arrests, warrants, search, and seizures are 

 included in the handbook as well as departmental policies governing 

 many other phases of field work. Training schools and written instruc- 

 tions have resulted in placing in the field a better-informed conservation 

 officer. 



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