Spray of fish is headed for a lake high In the mountains. Most of the areas that are difficult to reach by fisheries trucks are now stocked with 

 fish from aircraft. 



America's major goldeye market) in 1967 and a 

 contract for 100,000 pounds is pending for 1968. 



Other work of this study includes sampUng for 

 concentrations of commercially valuable species 

 throughout the entire reservoir and marking 

 northern pike to learn more about the migration 

 patterns and abundance of this popular game fish. 

 Although the northern pike cannot be taken 

 commercially, a knowledge of his areas of 

 concentration is important to commercial 

 operators so they can avoid him. 



Summary 



In terms of variety of game fish species, number 

 of quality streams, rivers and lakes, and fisherman 

 accessibility Montana has assumed the position of 

 number one trout fishing state in the nation. This 

 is particularly significant where wild trout are 

 concerned. Montana has partly come into this 

 position due to research and application preserving 

 fisheries values, and legal means necessary to 

 maintain the resources. Montana has also reached 

 this position due to former excellent fish 

 producing states falling behind in the crush of 

 competition for land and water uses which result in 

 massive pollution and fish habitat destruction. The 

 pressure grows in direct proportion to population 

 increases and the complexity of resolving more and 

 more conflicts of interests over Montana water and 

 watersheds. Montana Fish and Game Department 

 programs aim at perpetuating and enhancing 

 habitat values beneficial to fish and the wise 

 utilization of this important resource in the face of 

 whatever the future may have to offer. 



Fish Hatcheries 



Montana fish hatcheries have continued to 

 emphasize quahty in the overall fish cultural 

 program; at the same time maintaining sufficient 

 production to meet all of the plants requested by 

 fish managers throughout the state. Improvements 

 in fish diets and fish treatments have resulted in 

 fast growing trout with relatively low mortalities. 

 Fish transportation has improved also. New 

 fiberglass distribution tanks at several of the 

 hatcheries make it possible to transport fish 

 practically across the state with negligible losses. 



At the department's oldest fish hatchery in 

 Anaconda, new concrete tanks were constructed in 

 the hatchery building. These tanks replace troughs 

 which had been in use since 1908. The new tanks 

 have greatly increased the efficiency of the 

 Anaconda hatchery in producing fish of the proper 

 size at the proper time for planting. 



At the Bluewater Hatchery near Bridger, trout 

 have been hatched in boxes in the large 10-by 

 100-foot race-ways-an inconvenient operation. A 

 new hatchery building is being constructed at 

 Bluewater where the eggs can be hatched under 

 much better controlled conditions. 



A great deal of assistance in disease 

 investigations and treatments has been received 

 from the Federal Hatchery Development Center 

 located at Bozeman. Personnel at the center, 

 trained in fish pathology, have been most 

 cooperative in checking on problems at any of the 

 state hatcheries. In addition, national fish 

 hatcheries at Ennis, Creston, and Miles City play an 

 important part in the stocking of fish in state 

 waters. 



