sizes should be liberated at such times and in such a manner as to 

 insure the greatest possible return to the creel; and, (3) Fish should 

 be liberated only where they are needed for management and only 

 where a reasonable return of the fish to the creel may be assured. 



During the past biennium the personnel of the Fisheries Division 

 have taken a new look at the hatchery planting program in the 

 light of great quantities of scientific data which has been accumulated 

 from Montana and elsewhere, and have drafted a policy statement to 

 govern the use of hatchery raised fish. This statement, on pages 52-53, 

 has been designated as the "Fish Stocking and Management Policy 

 of the Fish and Game Department, State of Montana" and has been 

 adopted by the Fish and Game Commission. 



One who works in or is interested in fisheries management must 

 approach the subject with a flexible mind. This is absolutely essential 

 for two reasons: (1) The fishery itself is continually changing be- 

 cause of the influences of man and of nature; (2) The science of 

 fisheries management itself is changing as new scientific data become 

 available from research and investigation and as new management 

 methods are developed. Thus as one studies the "Fish Stocking and 

 Management Policy," he must bear in mind that it is based on present 

 conditions and on the most current facts. As these conditions change 

 and as current knowledge is expanded by new facts, the policy will 

 be adjusted accordingly. The policy statement is reproduced in its 

 entirety at the start of this section. Various principles should be 

 borne in mind as one studies the policy statement. 



Why Are Fish Planted? 



There are four reasons for operating hatcheries. 



(1) Where there are no game fish present or where it is certain 

 that an introduced species of game fish will be more desirable or pro- 

 duce a more desirable sport fishery, the hatchery may be used to 

 establish a population. Once the population is established, natural 

 reproduction should be adequate to sustain the sport fishery; the 

 hatchery task is completed. 



(2) In lakes, ponds and some streams where there are no 

 spawning grounds for an introduced population, or where existing 

 spawning grounds are inadequate to produce fish naturally in a 

 quantity to fill the carrying capacity of that body of water, fish 

 may be planted on a sustained basis. 



(3) In some streams existing spawning grounds are adequate 

 to produce fish naturally in a quantity to fill the carrying capacity 

 of the stream but the fishing pressure is so excessive that catchable 

 size trout may be planted from a hatchery on a put-and-take basis, 

 providing there is a reasonable return of these trout to the creel. 



(4) Lastly, the hatchery has the role of an "ace-in-the-hole" to 

 re-establish fish in waters where these have been removed by some 

 natural or artificial disaster. 



Of course, the most controversial of these points are number 

 two and three as relates to trout. Many sportsmen feel that most of 



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