^ 



FOREWORD 



Management of Montana's wildlife resources developed into a 

 major science and a growing industry during the past decade. This 

 growth has become strikingly evident during the bienniuni covered 

 by this report. A rapid increase in hunters and fishermen, starting 

 with the first license sale in 1901, readied an all time liigh with a sale 

 of 365,193 licenses in 1955. Outdoor recreation will continue in popu- 

 larity and any intelligent plan for the future must recognize the neces- 

 sity of supplying hunting and fishing to more and more individuals. 



As pressures increase on wildlife resources, the management of 

 these resources must be more precise and yet more flexible. Harvesting 

 fish and game is essential to its management, but this must be done 

 in conformance with scientific fact. These requirements indicate the 

 necessity of having a staff of qualified and well trained employees with 

 experience in many fields. 



Meeting the technical problems of fish and game management are 

 quite possible, but the more serious problem facing Montana's wildlife 

 is habitat, a place for game and fish to live. Destruction of clear, clean 

 water will result in proportionally fewer fish. No amount of artificial 

 stocking can replace lost waters. Invasion of wilderness areas will 

 automatically result in serious decreases of wilderness species of game. 

 In fact, almost every move made by civilization has detrimental effects 

 on fish and game. 



The next ten years will almost certainly be tlie key to the future 

 of liuntiiig and fishing in Alontana. If tlie environment can be main- 

 tained for tliat Icngtli of time, the wildlife resource will take its proper 

 place as one of Montana's leading assets. 



This report is a summary of the ^Montana Fish and Game Depart- 

 ment's progress during the past biennium in meeting problems of the 

 present and preparing for those of the future. 



