FISHERIES PROGRAM 



The Montana trout fishery is one of the most important natural 

 trout fisheries left in the United States. Montana, with its high moun- 

 tains, snowy peaks on three major water drainages — the Columbia, 

 Missouri and Hudson Kay — has streams and brooks of clean, clear 

 water that is necessary for trout habitat. Ponds in the eastern portion 

 of Montana and some western lakes have spiny-rayed fishes, and the 

 lower Missouri and the Yellowstone have excellent populations of 

 catfish. One can readily see that from the warmwater fish and slow- 

 moving water with catfish to the purest of mountain streams is a 

 complete range of fish habitat in one state. 



Our discourse of fishery management and investigations is designed 

 to point up some of the work that is being done and the problems 

 that IMontana must cope with now an,d in the future. The resume on 

 the hatchery program is to^ acquaint the sportsmen with the develop- 

 ments and a portion of the thinking that is now guiding modern fish 

 culturists. 



Fisheries Management and Investigation 



The operations of the Fisheries Management and Investigation 

 Section of the Fisheries Division are financed largely through the 

 Federal Aid in Fisheries Restoration Program, commonly known as 

 the Dingell-Johnson Program. 



During the 1954-55 fiscal year, thirteen Federal Aid projects were 

 authorized and twelve of these were actually executed. Fourteen were 

 authorized and thirteen executed during the 1955-56 fiscal year. 



A few of tlic highlights of the work accomplished by the section 

 arc briefly reviewed on the following pages. 



Fish Restoration Districts 



Five fish restoration districts were operative during the period cover- 

 ed by this report. These were the Northwestern, West Central, South- 

 eastern, Central, and Fastern Montana districts witli hcadciuarters at 

 Kalispell, Missoula, Bozeman, Great Falls and Glasgow, respectively. 

 The areas arc delineated on a map published in the Biennial Report for 

 1953-54. 



These districts fit into the decentralization plan of tiie Fish and 

 Game Department whereby every portion of the State may have its 

 individual fishery problems given needed attention most effectively. 

 The district fisheries biologist in each area is responsible for the man- 

 agement of the fishery resources within his district. These men outline 

 and execute sound and substantial restoration measures such as lake 

 and stream rehabilitation, habitat improvement, creation of new fishing 

 waters, and ac(iuisition and development of fishing areas for pul)lic 

 use; they outline planting programs in conjunction with the hatchery 

 foremen; and they work with enforcement and hatchery personnel to 

 formulate ade<iuatc and needed regulations. A few of the noteworthy 

 examples of activities of the district fisheries biologists follow: 



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