The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1941-07-03
By Graham Caldwell

Last years fish and game COM
mission report showed that a years
distribution from the Hamilton
hatchery amounted to $4,000
fish, the Somers hatchery 1926, 900,
the Poison hatchery 1,178,000 the
Libby hatchery 2.305, 900, and the
Anaconda hatchery 5,l65 900. (From
the Muscular, June 20, l94D.
Toward the end of the last cen
fury when it was discovered that
fish could be spawned and propo-
gated artificially, il appeared that
it would be simple matter to turn
out the required millions of Try
each year to make the lakes and
streams TEEN with trout. This pro-
cess, meeting with success in some
few cases. but dismal failure IN
many others, gave rise to the idea
that the hatchery turning out the
highest number of fish was doing
the best job.
But, quite some years ago, it be-
came apparent that to put fish IN
quantities in the creels of our
6portsmen it would be necessary to
do more than run up an astronoml-
cal figure of fish planted. AT this
point our hatcheries turned to pro-
ducing larger fish, for their much
higher survival rate made them the
only solution for planting much of
our water. II was found neither
necessary nor possible TO turn out
fish of near legal size at the rate
that fry had been turned out
From this situation we see the
truth of Figures Do Lie for the
hatchery turning out the largest
number of fish is not improving
fishing conditions as we'll as a
hatchery turning out less but bigger
fish.
Therefore, comparative list Of
the total fish put forth annually
from several hatcheries, is virtually
useless, even entirely misleading,
unless the size of the fish put out
is also considered. Better in our
estimation to put out 10000 fish
that end up in some sportsman's
basket than to put out 100000
fish that look good only in print
er's ink.
Our Libby hatchery has in years
past put out several million fish
annually After carrying out a
broad construction program for the
past few years, we are turning out
more yearling fish each year, there
by curtailing the practice of putting
out huge quantities of fry In a
sense, the better we are able each
year to fulfill our territory's needs,
the less wish we will plant We
have brought our production down
to somewhat over 100000, and
look forward to further reductions
as additional facilities make more
larger fish available During the
year 1910 we put out l55 truck
loads Of fish for planting, lob of
which were yearling fish. Creel
counts to date have shown very
gratifying results from this inten-
sive stocking. Indications point to
continually improving fishing condi-
lions as our construction and plant
ing programs are brought closer to
completion.
To alleviate this condition of fig
ures that lie, it has been suggested
that our state hatcheries follow a
plan being used by some Federal
hatcheries in recording fish planted
in pounds instead of numbers. As
an example, 1900 trout averaging
5 inches in length may weigh 40
pounds, whereas $4,000 trout fry
weigh but IL pounds. Thus a com
parative record would be more con-
sistent with the actual good done
to the waters planted However,
the feasibility of this plan is doubt
ed because it gives the interested
sportsmen too vague a yardstick
with which to Judge planting OPP
erations. Better in our judgment to