As a result of deliberations by the Commission and fisheries per- 

 sonnel, the project was authorized. During 1954 Kipp Lake and most 

 of Willow Creek near Browning were rehabilitated. Kipp Lake, 350 

 acres in size, was heavily infested with carp. This lake was poisoned 

 by the use of a Ford tri-motor airplane. During the summer and fall 

 of 1955 the balance of the project was executed and completed. 



By map measure it was determined that 416 miles of stream would 

 have to be covered. This figure did not include numerous small tribu- 

 taries. Those who are familiar with the extensive stream meandering 

 that is found in the Marias drainage realize that the stream mileage 

 covered was nearer 1,000 miles. From the starting point on Two Medi- 

 cine River to Tiber Dam there are about 100 airline miles. The starting 

 points for rehabilitation on the major tributary streams were as follows: 



Cut Bank Creek — Browning-to-Babb road bridge. 



Two Medicine River — Highway 49 bridge crossing. 



Badger Creek — Fourhorn Diversion Dam. 



Birch Creek — Lake Francis Diversion Dam. 



Dupuyer Creek — Lake Francis Diversion Dam. 



Dry Fork — Highway 99. 



Willow Creek — ^Just below Browning. 



Willow Creek near Galata — Very near the headwaters. 



In addition to these major streams, there were a great number of 

 smaller tributaries, sloughs and farm ponds which had to be cleaned 

 of carp and goldeye. 



A commercial product, "Fish-Tox," was used as the toxicant. In 

 streams this was applied in "slugs." The desired amount of toxicant 

 was mixed quickly into the water. As the current carried the "Fish-Tox" 

 downstream, it killed fish until it was diluted below the toxic level. 

 Upstream from this point another "slug" was then added. In addition 

 to "slugging," every stream was covered on foot, and backwaters and 

 small isolated pools were located and sprayed with hand pumps. The 

 large slough areas and farm ponds were poisoned by the use of a "Cub" 

 airplane equipped with a duster unit. Willow Creek near Galata and 

 the Dry Fork were slow-moving streams. These were largely poisoned 

 by airplane. 



Each time the toxicant was started on a major tributary, trout and 

 whitefish were the main fish killed. Within a very short distance these 

 fish were no longer found and rough fish predominated. For example, 

 carp were found in a predominantly trout and whitefish population at 

 the Boarding School on Cut Bank Creek. Practically no trout were 

 found, however, below the Merriweather Crossing. Below the South 

 Fork rough fish predominated in the Two Medicine River. In the 

 Marias River itself the main fish killed were carp, buffalo, suckers, 

 goldeye, carp suckers, redhorse, sturgeon and catfish. An occasional 

 sauger and whitefish were found. None of the men observed a trout, 

 although reports were received of an occasional trout being found by 

 observers. 



Rehabilitation is only one part of the project. Now there is the 

 major job of restocking the waters with trout. The rehabilitation was 



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