has resulted in several cases, of water being offered for public use to 

 the Fish and Game Department if such water were included in the 

 management program. 



Another step forward was made in coordinating the work of the 

 regional biologists in the inspection of streams and lakes in their dis- 

 tricts. This information has been used to adjust planting procedures 

 so the optimum in utilization of fish planted may be enjoyed by the 

 fishing public. Species planted have been changed and size of fish have 

 been changed. Recommendations as to numbers and the stocking of 

 virgin high mountain lakes or re-stocking of non-reproductive lakes, 

 have been accomplished under this program. For many years the 

 planting of fish was entirely done by truck or by pack string into the 

 mountain areas. With a newly acquired department airplane several 

 lakes in each hatchery district were planted with cutthroat trout or 

 other species deemed most suitable for the water in question. 



During the biennium, an apartment house that would furnish 

 quarters for the help was constructed at the Anaconda Fish Hatchery. 

 At the Arlee station, a supply pipe line was installed to clear up a 

 bacterial infestation that was hampering and curtailing the trout pro- 

 duction at that station. At the Hamilton station, in place of the shal- 

 low troughs that were furnished by the original John Daly Hatchery, 

 large cement tanks were installed so that we may hold fish to year- 

 ling size within the hatchery, thereby getting larger fish for planting. 



At the Great Falls Hatchery, a freezing unit for fish food storage 

 was constructed and all the buildings painted. The Lewistown hatchery 

 has not made any changes during the biennium with the exception 

 that a spring was purchased for use in future development. 



At the Big Timber Hatchery a small pipe line was installed to 

 better deliver the water to the outside ponds and raceways. At Emi- 

 grant Hatchery, there were no improvements made and the operations 

 are being carried on according to the planned program. Recognizing 

 the need for additional fish to be planted in the area surrounding Bil- 

 lings, the Fish and Game Commission formulated a plan for the con- 

 struction and maintenance of a rearing station at t romberg, Montana. 

 Thi.<? station has lived up to expectations and has produced catchable 

 size fish for the area near Billings, Red Lodge, Hardin, Absarokee, 

 and Columbus. The original 10 concrete rearing tanks have been 

 added to by the construction of 9 additional dirt raceways at con- 

 siderably less cost than the cement tanks and by experiments shov 

 they will produce as well as cement structures. 



The Libby Hatchery has been improved by the addition of a race- 

 way type tank to utilize additional spring water that is available. The 

 future plans are also to include deep tanks in the hatchery so an 

 operational plan such as is being used at both Arlee and Hamilton 

 may be utilized. Construction of water impoundments in Eastern Mon- 

 tana is affording good warm water fishing and to meet this planting 

 need, the Department has developed a pike hatchery and rearing 



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