The McNeil Hatchery at Malta, Montana, is primarily a wall-eyed 

 pike hatchery, and spawn taking operations are ever increasing. Dur- 

 ing the past year about six million wall-eyed pike eggs were taken, 

 hatched and distributed to waters within the state. 



DISTRIBUTION 



Several years ago the State of Montana was divided into hatchery 

 districts and these districts were served by hatcheries located within 

 the boundaries. This, in fisheries management in Montana, was a 

 very intelligent move. In keeping each hatchery to a district it elim- 

 inated over-lapping of plantings between different hatcheries. 



During the biennium some of the planting recommendations were 

 I'evised, and from information available species were changed so that 

 we would stock with the prevalent species of fish in the water, there- 

 by using the species that is best suited to the individual stream. 



Two new distribution units were constructed and recognition 

 was given this equipment in the "Progressive Fish Culturist," pub- 

 lished by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The system used for 

 the tanks is known as a Lafevre aerating system and the tanks are 

 insulated and carry an auxiliary circulation pump in case the other 

 system should fail for some mechanical reason. These tanks have 

 been very successful in the transporting of trout. In one instance, 

 700 pounds of fish were hauled without any visible signs of distress. 



Table II shows the numbers and size of fish distributed from the 

 hatcheries operated by the State of Montana and cooperative unit at 

 Miles City. 



It is the aim of the depai'tment to manage each hatchery to serve 

 its particular district to the best advantage. In some cases the cost 

 of the hatchery is way in excess of the pounds of fish distributed, 

 however, in the management of Montana waters, spawn taking op- 

 erations and the resulting work that is carried on in connection with 

 getting the supply of eggs for the state is not equally distributed 

 among the hatcheries. Therefore, hatcheries such as Anaconda, Arlee, 

 Big Timber, Libby and Somers supply the eggs for the entire state. 



In the management of the sockeye salmon, the Poison and Somers 

 hatcheries are the only sources for this specie of fish, however, these 

 eggs are distributed to different hatcheries and different locations 

 within the state. 



The walleye pike distribution report will show large numbers 

 of eggs and fish, however, the fish are mostly distributed as fry. 



On heavily fished waters the larger size trout that are planted 

 show a better percentage of return to the fisherman's creel. In 

 virgin ponds and lakes, plantings are more successful with smaller 

 fish with less cost of distribution and the survival return is much 

 higher than small fish planted in big streams containing the larger 

 cannibalistic resident population. 



(29) 



