Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-08-08
Thousands
Of Baby Fish
At Hatchery
Elmer Phillips Tending Big
Crop for Future Sport
Of Fishermen.
EXPECT TO HATCH
OVER 100000 FRY

nalcn Oh l,bUU,UuU young trout
for the streams and lakes of Lincoln
county is the program laid out for
the state fish hatchery at Libby this
season, says Elmer Phillips, the ener-
getic young man in charge of the
work at that interesting institution.
Shipments Of rainbow trout to va
rlous parts Of the county have already
been made so as to leave the Matching
troughs and rearing ponds for tho
native trout crop, which is now fully
under way. To date there have been
shipped 20 cans of fry to Geiger lake,
part of these going into two small un-
named lakes in that vicinity; 60 cans
to Eureka and 40 cans to Troy. Later
shipment will be sent to the Yaak.
Deputy States Game Warden Dorrin1-
ton says they are experimenting with
the two small lakes near Geiger lake,
to see how the young trout thrivu
there.
A visit to the hatchery is interest
ing. 1t is located in slightly spot on
Cedar creek, surrounded by mountains,
trees and brush. The main building
contains Is regulation size California
redwood troughs, now filled with
thousands Of tiny native trout. Water
is supplied to each trough from
Ilume running across one side of the
building, with short pipe delivering
the water into each trough After Z
certain time in the Matching troughs
the young fry fry are transferred to four
rearing ponds where they are kept
until they reach a more suitable size
for liberating into the streams.
The hatchery was opened here Nav
6 and Mr.. Phillips states it will prob
ably be kept in operation until about
Christmas. The hatchery, house and
garage are neatly painted and have
an attractive appearance in their for
est. setting. The site is one of the
best in the state, there being an
abundance of water throughout the
year, of an ideal temperature, and
with a constant flow from Cedar
creek, 1t is said the stream does not
vary over six inch in height at any
time of the year
Mr.. Phillips is making a fine record
here and is being highly complimented
by the local sportsmen who are help
ing him in the work and the distri-
button of the fry. He thoroughly un-
derstands his work and the extreme
care necessary in the Matching and
raising Of the young trout, is accom-
modating and cordial and takes pleas
ure in showing visitors over the plant.
We are always glad to have visitors"
he said. "The hatchery is not far
from Libby but we do not haye> many
callers and some times it is a little
lonesome"
Mr. Phillips hopes to induce tho
state fish and game commission 10
allow the building Of a pipe line Z
short distance further up the creek,
SO as to provide a sufficient pressure
for water system over the plant. This
would give fire protection, which II
really needed, and would allow tho
| landscaping of the grounds and tha
seeding of lawn. If that is done thN
Libby hatchery would become syl-
van paradise
| One little incident is an example III
the care exercised by Mr.. Phillips il
his supervision Of the hatchery. Some
young boys, fishing along the creek
| uie udy, dCCluenlally ciOSeu E1L0
at the intake of the flume and thus
shot off much of the flow of water.
| Phillips, working about the place, no
ticed the flow Of water dropping rap
idly and rushed along the flume and
corrected the trouble before the lack
Of water could harm his little charges
In order to make repetition Of such
a happening practically impossible,
he has rugged float in the flurns
in such way that slight dropping
of the water will start an alarm -
sounding. The alarm is an auto horn
which he took off an old Ford. u
the water should drop the horn win
give the alarm.
II can't speak too highly Of ths
enthusiastic cooperation I have 10
ceived from local sportsmen," sail
Phillips. "They have helped me II
many ways and are always more thaa
willing to jump in and do anything
they can to help the work here. $
isn't every community that has thak
| class Of fellows and I haven't always
received that hearty cooperation. I
should like the people to know hs0
much / appreciate their friendahR
and help"