These fences are carefully located so they in no way 

 minimize the value of the reservoirs for livestock 

 watering purposes. Maintenance is necessary each 

 year to keep these areas fully productive. 



Payment in Lieu of Taxes 



A payment in lieu of taxes is made annually by 

 the Montana Fish and Game Commission for land 

 purchased for big game and waterfowl development. 

 These payments were authorized by the Montana 

 State Legislature. These department lands are as- 

 sessed by the county assessors in each county where 

 they might be located and the payments are com- 

 parable to those made by private land holders in 

 these areas. During the two years covered by this 

 biennium, the payments to counties has amounted to 

 approximately $18,000 per year. 



Wildlife Investigations Laboratory 



A wildlife investigations laboratory is maintained 

 at Montana State College in Bozeman. This labora- 

 tory is staffed by department personnel who work 

 in close cooperation with the college. Information 

 being gathered concerns food habits of various game 

 species with age ratio information and the standardi- 

 zation of techniques used by field personnel. Pres- 

 ently, the laboratory has collected and is analyzing 

 information obtained from fifteen hundred elk. In- 

 formation from the Yellowstone Park reduction pro- 

 gram last winter. Such information as age, weights. 



sex ratios, stomach contents, blood samples and 

 various other materials were gathered and will be 

 analyzed as time becomes available. The outcome 

 should be immensely important to the management 

 of elk here in Montana and throughout the west. This 

 is undoubtedly the most complete collection yet made 

 in regard to elk on this continent. 



Game Bird Farms 



The Warm Springs Bird Farm has operated at 

 full capacity during the two years of the reporting 

 biennium. The production from the Fort Peck pheas- 

 ant farm was seriously affected during these past 

 two years by an unknown mortality condition, and 

 an almost complete loss of birds was experienced 

 two years ago at this farm. Every effort was made 

 in attempting to minimize this situation. Sick birds 

 and samples from sick and dead birds were sent to 

 every available laboratory for analysis. Soil and 

 vegetative samples were also studied. The causative 

 agent was not however determined during the past 

 year. Consequently, the following year a smaller 

 number of birds were raised at the Fort Peck Game 

 Farm with the primary objective of determining if a 

 loss would again be experienced among the pheas- 

 ants raised at this farm. The loss did recur and has 

 been diagnosed as a form of poisoning known as 

 botulism. This poison results from a bacteria. Com- 

 plete information on details of the disease are not as 

 yet available. 



MONTANA COOPERATIVE WILDLIFE 

 RESEARCH UNIT 



The Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit 

 was established at Montana State University on 

 February 8, 1950. It is operated through a coordi- 

 nating committee with representatives from the State 

 Fish and Game Department, State University and 

 U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 



Objectives of the unit are: 



To provide technical and professional training on 

 various levels in wildlife management, teaching, re- 

 search, demonstration and administration. 



To investigate and correlate the production, utili- 

 zation, management and restoration of desirable 

 populations of wildlife compatible with good land 



To demonstrate research findings through exten- 

 sion and practical management of game and fur- 

 bearing animals and of other desirable species of 

 wildlife, and encourage wildlife restoration through 

 programs with schools, youth clubs and adult groups. 



To make available to land-owners and operators, 

 sportsmen, conservation officials, extension workers, 

 teachers and others, the facts, methods and new 

 findings discovered through research and through 

 literature suited to local and state conditions. 



To disseminate research findings through the pub- 

 lication of reports, bulletins, circulars, and journal 

 and magazine articles. 



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