The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-17

the fact that by the present law fish
may be taken from the streams the
year round. Nature has been very
kind to us and has been a great pro-
tector to the fish during the spawning
season by reason of high water But it
is idle to stock our streams with
spawn and at the same time permit
fishing at the very time when the fish
are doing what we try to do with
spawn, filling the rock crannies with
eggs which soon grow into fish. There
should be a close season for fish, for
while fishing is poor at the spawning
season, on account of high water, by
fishing, by irrigation bitches at this
season, by mills which have no screen
to keep fish from going through the
wheels, millions of eggs are destroyed
annually. In the streams of the state
not only should there be a close sea-
son for fish, but from three to five mil
lion young should be placed in the wa
tiers every year.
This involves building a hatchery
But a state as large as Montana, with
its magnificent setreams, noted the
world over as the finest fishing streams
on earth, should have a fish hatchery
The United States hatchery at Boze-
man cannot supply the demands made
on it for fish from this western section,
and a state hatchery would not inter-
fere at all in their work. Such a
hatchery should be planned for at
once. and fish spawn should be placed
in the important streams every year.
In this connection, continuing on
fish, the people of the state of Mon
tana should not cease activity in the
matter until a fiahWay is placed in
the river at Thompson Falls. With
a fishWay here salmon could come up
into the waters of the state which are
now stopped by the falls. These
n,1l@v
ance of fish in our streams, but the
spawn would be an additional source
of food for our present trout Every
effort should be made to have this done
and at the earliest possible moment
If it is too great a task for the state
our representatives in congress should
be requested and petitioned to work for
the enterprise as one of national good.
A few things may be mentioned
specifically that have been done the
past year. Several arrests and convic-
lions have been made for killing deer
out of season. A number of convic-
lions have been made for dumping
SaWdust in streams, while other mill
owners have been deferred from doing
so. fishWay is being placed in the
dam at the Big Hole. Shipment of
trout seined out of Henry lake has
been stopped. The sale of fish and game
in the open markets of several cities
has ceased, and the vendors have been
made to have some respect for the law.
One band of Indians was stopped from
killing ducks in the forest reserve and
one offender was sent up for 80 days.
During the past year several reports
have been received from the quail that
were liberated in the Bitter Root and
Missoula river valleys. The reports are
very favorable. Not only have the old
birds lived, but they have in several
cases reared good broods, showing that
by care and protection these beautiful
game birds may be made to live and
thrive in this locality. The reports are
that the bob white of these birds
may be heard in a dozen different
places in the summer and that to hear
them reminds one of the eastern states
and the famous quail haunts. 1t is
very gratifying to note that the at
Tempt was successful. Credit for this
IS due the lovers of birds in Missoula
and Ravalli counties, and not to the
The commission would like to try the
of Monaghan pheasant5
IN large enough scale to prove a fair
rial if there We're POUNDS for the pur-
pose.
The game and fish of the state are