SURVEYS 



Lake and stream surveys are a continuing part of each district's 

 activities. The basic purpose of the surveys is to catalogue each body 

 of water in the State according to its physical and biological charac- 

 teristics. Management recommendations are made as waters are sur- 

 veyed, and when approved, these are executed by the district fisheries 

 biologists. The Fish and Game Commission again acknowledges 

 gratefully the help given the Department in this and the other fisheries 

 programs hy the Zoology and Entomology Department, Montana State 

 College. The provision they have made for Department office and 

 laboratory space, for loan of specialized equipment, for consultation 

 with staff members, and for use of library facilities has been of tre- 

 mendous value. 



MARIAS RIVER DRAINAGE SURVEY AND 

 REHABILITATION 





^^/A5 ^' 



Marias River Drainage, showing area treated with toxicant and rehabilitated for trout. 



As the population of Montana continues to increase, and as people 

 gain more and more lei.sure time, an ever greater demand will be 

 pressed upon the recreational fisheries of the state. Means must be 

 adopted by the Fish and Game Department to develop available high 

 quality fishing in proportion to the demand. It is commonly assumed 

 among sportsmen that this end can be accomplished in trout areas 

 solely through planting of catchable-size trout. A casual examination 

 of the table appearing on page 69 of this report will reveal that only 

 a very limited fishery can be maintained in this manner with present 



— 51 



