The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-16
A SHAMEFUL SLAUGHTER.
How Fish Are Being Destroyed
Through the Inexcusable Neg
ligence of Ditch Owners.
The Giant Powder Criminal Is also
at Work in the Wholesale
Destruction.
Streams Filling With sawdust-Unles
Something Is Done Montana
Fishing VIII BE Ruined.

matter which should receive immediate
attention is the wholesale destruction of
fish going on in this state. If the illegal
means now used are continued it will be a
matter of short time only before the fish
ing In Montana is ruined forever. More
over, unless this can be stopped it will be
useless for the government to stock any
streams. Unfortunately there is no law to
prevent the destruction of fish by the irri-
eating bitches, though the owners of these
should have sufficient sense to provide for
the difficulty. In front of each ditch at tho
entrance to the stream is a boom set
against the current. This practically di-
vcrts the course of the water, which runs
in half current into the ditch. The trout
naturally follow this flow of the stream
and run over on the land, where they die.
gentleman who recently visited the
Kleinschmidt ditch, Mt Cascade, says he
saw thousands of trout lying dead over OH
the land. This destruction can be stopped
in very simple and inexpensive way. All
that is necessary is wire screen in front
of the ditch at the entrance to the
stream. This will not stop the flow of the
water but it will keep the fish in their ma
tural channel It is difficult to understand
how owners of bitches will allow this to go
on when they have no use for the fish de-
stroyed. In some cases this may be the re-
suit of carelessness on their part. At any
rate owners should remedy the matter at
once and the next Legislature should pass
law making the placing Of screens compul-
sorry.
Another way in which fish are being de-
stroyed in large quantities is by the use of
giant powder. This is a criminal otfense
though this seems to make no difference
with the men who practice it. The usual
way is to place fuse IN stick of giant
powder throw it in the water where it ex-
plodes and sends hundreds of stunned fish
to the surface. The largest are taken and
the exI losion is the destruction of the
spawn. This shameful method IS practiced
in several parts of the state ana among
other places on the Blackfoot where
fish are destroyed through irrigatinq
bitches. Another way by which fish are
destroyed is the accumulation of sawdust
| in the streams. On these latter subjects
the law is as follows:
Section 1156 of the compiled statutes;
All persons having in operation and all
persons who may hereafter construct and
put in operation, in the territory of Mon
tana. either in person or by agent, any
sawmill on any stream containing fish are
hereby reqired to 80 care for any dust that
may emanate from any such sawmill OF
sawmills as to prevent the same from ming
ing WIFI Cuo WdJeIb VI dLy buCu 6tIcdul
and all persons owning or operating, Of
who may hereafter own, construct or oper-
ate any sawmill on any stream containing
fish, who shall drop, dump or cause to b,
deposited in such stream any such quanti-
ty of sawdust, bark or debris shall be
deemed guilty of a msdemeanor and, upo1
conviction thereof before any court of com
petent Jurisdiction, shall be fined in any
sum not exceeding fifty dollars for eacf
and every offense."
The law against the use of giant powde
imposes penalty of fine in any sum no
exceeding $3.50, or imprisonment for si1
months.
There is also provision for the appoint
ment of game warden by the county com
missioners of each county upon the appli
cation of one hundred taxpayers. II viii
! be the duty of the game warden to see tina
, the law is enforced. The officer may serv
as long rs his services are needed in tn
Judgment of the county commissioners
, One way for the officers to stop this whole
sale destruction of fish is for the citizens o
, the counties in which this work is going OIL
to insist on the enforcement of the law. DR.
, Holloway, who has travelled around tn
. state says that unless something is don
very soon the fishing in the state will b
ruined forever.