MONTANA STATE FISH COMMISSION. 



33 



tion. It has been estimated by the careful observers connected 

 with the United States Fishiers Department that an acre of 

 water will produce as much life sustaining food if devoted 

 to the raising- of fish, as will an acre of land, so that the 

 question is one of more than usual importance when considered 

 in the light of a food supply, open and free to all. 



The law should provide a closed season for game fish, as 

 well as some means by which they may Ije prevented from 



A Well Filled Creel. 



entering irrigating ditches through which they are carried onto 

 • the cultivated land, and then die. If a screen or a Henshall 

 ^ wheel should be placed in the head of ditches, and this be a 

 requirement of law, much of the damage now done would be 

 avoided, and much now lost would be saved. The Henshall 

 wheel is inexpensive, easily made and adjusted, and never 

 causes an obstruction to the flow of water. 



A\"ith the completion of a hatchery in Flathead County, the 

 means of propagation of fish will be doubled, but even this 

 \yill hardly supply the ever increasing demands which are 

 made from all parts of the State for trout fry for planting in 

 the many suitable lakes and streams. We believe that if the 

 fund at the disposal of the State is ample for this purpose, 



