32 BIENNIAL REPORT OF 



three hundred pounds of other fish. The sucker and squaw 

 fish eat the eggs of the trout, so that there should be no pro- 

 tection by law for any variety or species except those known 

 as g-ame fish ; that is, the Mountain trout, Rainbow trout, 

 Eastern brook trout, the Steelhead trout and the Grayling. Of 

 the last named, the ^fountain trout and the Grayling are in- 

 digenous to Montana, but the Grayling has never been found 

 in the waters of the State which flow into the Pacific, but only 

 in the headwaters of the [Missouri river. 



In the spring of 1909, the experiment of planting Grayling 

 in Georgetown lake, the waters of which flow into the Pacific, 

 was made with 'most surprising success. In the last mentioned 

 year, a quantitv of eggs were obtained and hatched, and a 

 number, estimated at fifty thousand, planted in this lake. At 

 the end of two years they had attained the remarkable weight 

 of nearly two pounds and during the present 3^ear, they have 

 been caught therem of an estimated weight of five pounds, 

 which is much larger than they are ever foimd in their native 

 waters. In the spring of iQii, and also the present year, large 

 quantities of eggs have been taken from the fish first planted, 

 and they are also multiplying rapidly in a natural way. 



The measure of success which has been met with in planting 

 fry in the public waters of the State must ahvays remain a 

 matter of conjecture where the waters are already fairly well 

 supplied with native fish. 



We have had most encouraging reports from streams in 

 which fry have been planted, when the natural supply has been 

 exhausted b}'- fishing, and in those lakes and streams which 

 contained no fish but had the natural food for them, the results 

 have been most gratifying. There are a large number of lakes 

 in Montana which, because of the waterfalls separating them 

 from the lower reaches of streams or rivers having fish, have 

 •never become populated. In this direction, there is an almost 

 boundless field for work for the hatcheries. The biological 

 department of the State University has. under the direction 

 of Dr. M. J. Klrod, done excellent work in exploring and re- 

 porting u|:)i>ii lakes of this description. One of such reports 

 is subjoined hereto, and made a part hereof, and we ask that 

 the same may be considered as showing the necessity for re- 

 newed and persistent activity- u]ion the part of the State, in 

 taking advantage of its vast natural advantages in this direc- 



