9U.M0NTANA J« W. SEVERY •'■ COPY HO \\ /...:.....:.>':: *rmki M yo^r/ <* &•>•% 3Mf< j ■ 6 STATE OF MONTANA John W. Bonner, Governor MONTANA FISH AND GAME COMMISSION Edward M. Boyes, Chairman Walter Banka Elmer Johnson Thomas S. Morgan William Carpenter Robert H. Lambeth, Secretary The Fish and Game Commission bulletin, "Sporting Montana," has been exceedingly well received. Encouraged by the success of this move better to acquaint the citizens of Montana with its work, the Commission established a Department of Public Information and Education. The work of this department is to use all possible means to disseminate to the interested public information concerning the activities and programs of the Commission. This is being done through the mediums of the press, motion pictures, personal contacts, radio, and special publications. In addi- tion, the public relations department is to investigate the possibilities of future work in conservation education field as it affects the work of the Commission. The Commission realizes that the success of all programs of fish and game management are dependent to a great extent upon the cooperation of the Public. The Commission also feels that the only way to secure this cooperation is to keep the public completely in- formed as to the various activities and the reasons for them. This is the work of the new department. l4Jillia+n Gasipentesi REPRINT PRIVILEGES Permission to reprint any of the articles, or portions thereof, appearing in this magazine is hereby granted, provided a credit line is included. Your Department's Structure Table of Contents GOVERNOR FISKir comi GAME SSION STATE hsh **- GAME WARDEN Robert Lambeth CVA\EF DEPUTY CRHE WARDEN WAITER EVERlN 1 FISHERIES DIVISION WHDUFE RESTORATION DIVISION 1 G/\ME FARti DIVISION /\DMIN\STWV TION 1 1 MAINTENANCE PHOTO -LAB 1 1 FISCAL DIVISION PROPERTY CUSTODIAN 1 1 ENGINEER PUBLIC INFQRTlATlOtf <4- L.EC-.AL • VOL. I — No. 3 Editor LORRAINE KURFISS REMINGTON Editorial 2 Editorial 3 Why We Ruled Out Carp 4 Department Personalities 6 Long Live Our Grayling 7 Pond Fishing 1 1 Fisheries Pioneer Retires 12 Boy-Fishin' 14 Wardens Take Tests 17 Clown of Inland Waters 18 Salting Big Game 20 Timberlines 25 COVER PICTURE Featured on the cover and as "Boy-Fishin' model is Jeff Bartsch, 8, of 10 Chaucer street, Helena. He is a second-grader at Emerson school, and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Don Bartsch. ZdUvad - USE WISELY You can't take it with you. That's why Conservation doesn't mean "to save." If Montana saved all the game and fish in the state, there would be no sport for the sportsman, and game animals and fish would be fighting a battle of "survival of the fittest." The floors of over-grazed forests would be the deathbeds of the unattended wild. Waste would be the victor. Rather, we choose to call "Conservation" as is practiced in present day game management, "Using Wisely" — the reason we can have our game and eat it too. "Use Wisely" must become key words in conservation educa- tion in order to explain game management to those who be- lieve our sportsmen are taking too many deer, or, conversely, to those who kick about closed or short seasons. For instance, wise use, as we see it, does not mean for anyone to kill a game animal whenever he runs out of food, but to kill game animals when they run out of food, due to overpopulation of the species, and over- grazing of the forests. Again, wise usage is helping nature make a balance by transferring elk, for example, from an overstocked area to a territory where they are lacking. Again, a sportsman who utilizes every bit of game meat is practicing conservation — in con- trast to one who takes only the choice hind quarters, and leaves the rest of the animal to decay. The Montana Fish and Game Department is attempting to use wisely its knowledge by making public its findings in game animal, bird, and fish research through the medium of Montana's news- papers and radio stations, through the local sportsmen's clubs and associations, and through the many conservation films which are sent upon request to any organization or individual in the state. Conservation not only must be practiced, but it must be taught. To use wisely is to throw back the "little fish" and let him grow into a meal size catch. To use wisely is to abide by the regulations which are constructed to protect and to maintain the status of the present wildlife in Montana, the happiest hunting ground in the West. ZdtivucU- PUBLIC INFORMATION Conservation has a multitude of meanings. Originally it meant total saving, but as this concept developed it was found that often total saving was not the entire answer in many cases. In fact it was noticed that unless some use was made of many of the natural resources, the objectives of conservation often failed. So we find conservation changing to mean a wise use of our natural resources. However, in a rapidly changing modern world, many changes in our resource supply, particularly fish and game, occur almost overnight. These developments can be detected by an alert fish and game department properly staffed with field technicians. Obviously game and fish administrators must move in step with other changes if this valuable wildlife resource is to find its proper place in the world today. This may mean new methods of manage- ment and often departure from old practices. This brings up a major problem, that of bringing before the public these conditions and reasons for changes. The proper medium for this informative activity is conservation education through news releases, magazine articles, movies and lec- tures. An informal public and sportsmen's group is a powerful agency for backing the wise use and perpetuation of the resources which mean so must to our state. The job of making available timely and accurate information is the responsibility placed upon the Division of Public Information and Education. This division acting through the Fish and Game Commission and the Department's nearby 200 employees must keep the public atuned to progress and change in the current status of wildlife. However, information for adults only is not enough, as a very important group of potential hunters and fishermen is growing each day. Upon these youngsters much of the future of outdoor sports is dependent, and a program of conservation education is well justi- fied so that they too may know the problems and needs of wildlife. The attempt to keep Montana's hunters and fishermen informed and to establish a youth educational program will be the primary objective of the Division of Public Information and Education. America has been built upon a policy of free exchange of facts and ideas. A wise fish and game department can do no better than adhere to these ideals. Whg Montana Ruled Out Carp Perhaps it's not a remedy nor a cure, but Montana's minnow regulation may at least prevent further ruination of our trout waters. The last ten years have seen some of Montana's best fishing waters turn from excellent, to mediocre, to poor because of an influx into their waters of small non-game fish. Too late to remedy present condi- tions caused by the introduction of carp, for example, into trout streams, the Montana Fish and Game Com- missioners decided to do something this year to stop the malady from spreading to other Treasure State fishing havens. So they passed on a regulation prohibiting the use of carp and gold- fish minnows for bait in all the state's waters except some where these fish are presently found. It means that, except for the Missouri and its main stem impoundments from the North Dakota line to Three Forks, the Milk river from Chinook to the Missouri, Musselshell river from Roundup to Fort Peck, and the Yellowstone river from Laurel, and its tributaries from Forsyth to the North Dakota, fishing with carp and goldfish minnows is a thing of the past, at least for the time being. But why take it out on the fisher- men? comes the light For a long time, game wardens and fisheries biologists have been working on streams census-taking and have noticed the almost miracu- lous appearance of fish hitherto for- eign to certain waters, not only in the streams, but lakes, also. Then, gradually, they realized that the phenomenon had been taking place right before their eyes, every time they regarded a minnow fisherman unloading his bait pail into the water after he had caught his limit of game fish. So that was it. Unwittingly, the anglers had contributed markedly to the decline of Montana's trout fishing. Many lakes and streams have al- ready been ruined, but luckily many of the best are still free of carp and goldfish and can be saved for the sportsmen. The minnow law is hit- ting the nail on the head by putting to use the adage that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Sportsmen who understand what carp are doing to the fishing waters are vigorously endorsing the new regulation. Those who do not under- stand such a drastic measure by the Commission demand to know why, and rightly so. deciding factors The action prohibiting the use of the minnows was not decided upon by the Commission alone. It acted upon the recommendations of deputy game wardens, district warden super- visors, fisheries biologists, and in- dividuals who were disheartened to see their favorite trout streams and lakes diminishing at the hand of the unwise fisherman. The line of reasoning which led to the minnow regulation is based on population of game fish versus rough fish. The carp is a vegetarian basic- ally, whereas the trout diet is over fifty per cent plants and insect larvae. The balance of nature is dis- rupted each year by the fishermen who take only the game fish, and leave rough fish to reproduce undis- turbed. Carp, if let live, grow to be mammoth fish, eating themselves out of all natural stream vegetation until the trout are forced out of existence. carrying capacity The main argument against rough fish is the fact that any stream or lake can hold just so many pounds of fish as its "carrying capacity." If the ma- jority of this population is allowed to be rough fish, then the game fish, in their struggle against nature and the fisherman will lose out in favor of the undesirable species. The trout must vie with the carp not only for insects and vegetation, but for space. The general rule cannot be applied to all Montana waters, since good trout waters are not necessarily good carp waters. The carp must spawn in warmer temperatures, whereas the trout can live in the warmer waters of the ponds, rivers, and lakes, but must go upstream into the fresh waters to spawn. Therefore, if trout are to remain in the lakes and rivers where they now may be fished, a possible competitor must be kept out, and fishermen must stop emptying left-over minnows into these "virgin" waters. hebgen's chubs One of the most serious upsets caused by increasing rough fish in Montana is in Hebgen lake. At pres- ent the trout population is not serious- ly depleted, but a few years will show a changing picture where rapidly reproducing Utah chubs have replaced the trout which were taken during fishing season. The reason that Hebgen and other waters like it which already contain certain rough fish are closed to minnow fishing is to prevent other species of these non- game fish from being introduced. Were it not for the minnow regu- lation, what would prevent fisher- men from seining squaw-fish min- nows from Henry's lake and using them, and consequently, dumping them in Hebgen? By setting the minnow regulation, the fish and game department was not trying to spoil the fishing sport for any of the anglers; it merely pro- hibited the use of the carp and gold- fish minnows as bait in certain waters of the state, and of all small fish for bait in others. But without the cooperation of the sportsmen, no regulation is worth the paper on which it is written. In the end, it is up to each individual person who has sporting blood. It is for his recreation in one of the greatest game states in the country that this fish and game department exists. Sporting Montana Is Free on Request DEPARTMENT PERSONALITIES The fisherman pictured below is Ann Holshue, known to may of her correspondents as Mr. Holshue, or just plain "A.F." She can't help it if out-of-staters for whom she plans fishing excur- sions and hunting trips think she's a gentleman. Perhaps those who write for information to the Fish and Game De- partment just natur- ally think only a man would know so much about plan- ning a Montana out- ing, and could give such accurate in- formation. Nine times out of ten, when these thankful sportsmen get back home, they write to the department and thank the kind "Mr. Holshue" for direct- ing them to just the right places. Well, Ann's main job is being the main-office secretary where she does various and sundry jobs besides act- ing as corresponding guide for hunt- ing parties. She types, files, sells shipping permits, trapper's permits, fishing and hunting licenses, answers telephone, and knows by memory 6 — 9ntiaducinUHflUUf By FRED BEAL Foreman, Anaconda Fish Hatchery The whole picture of the fight for survival of Montana's fightingest and most delicate fish. As we now realize, Mother Nature was extremely gracious and gener- ous in her bequests upon the land now known as Montana and one of her outstanding contributions was the fish Thymallus Montanus — Mon- tana Grayling. This fish, living among other native species at the headwaters of the Mis- souri river above the Great Falls was found here by the Lewis and Clark expedition. Through the efforts of the Montana Fish and Game Depart- ment, which started in 1908, we still have them residing in most of those places plus many lakes west of the continental divide. It has only been due to man's efforts in changing the face of the earth that we have lost the grayling in some areas by building dams, plowing land, over-cutting the timber, polluting water, and planting foreign species of fish. He has de- stroyed something that was essential for food, or that was necessary to pro- duce it for the tiny fry as he emerged from the fine gravel or sand where the eggs had been deposited. But aside from this, we still do have many fine grayling waters in the state that provide good returns and many hours of good fishing for the Montana angler. georgetown plant As stated above, the Montana Fish and Game Department started to work on grayling propagation almost at its inception and grayling eggs were secured from one of our streams on the eastern slope and planted in Georgetown lake. It was a very (Continued on next page) sMK^ f»-»rpK 4 Fred Beal nets a grayling from the traps on Georgetown lake and holds him up to be photographed. fortunate act inasmuch as the orig- inal stocking has provided Montana and other states in the nation with millions of eggs. Fortunate, because before this time the United States was importing carp and other species of fish from Europe and had someone gotten the idea that they should have been planted in the lake, Lord only knows what the present picture would be. We have been able through the years to make plantings in other waters. Of course this has been on a trial and error basis and in many waters tried, they did not flourish, while on the other hand we have made plants that today provide ex- cellent fishing. As we continue our work in this field we may be able someday to test the water for the food required or the biological and chemical conditions necessary for those tiny fry to get started. We have already made some steps in this direction. In 1934 or thereabouts, C. Fuqua, then Superintendent of the Fish and Wildlife Station at Bozeman, Montana, perfected a system of feed- ing fry by grinding horse hearts through a 5/64 grinder plate 30 times and applying this to the troughs by screening it through a 40-mesh-to-the- inch screen. This artificial feeding program was carried on at the Great Falls station where the temperature was 52 degrees F. which is the same as at Bozeman, while the temperature at Anaconda is 49 degrees. We found that this would not work at Anaconda, because of water tem- perature. So it became necessary to revert to a natural food. We have found here that by getting a culture of daphne started in a tank 100 ft. 10 ft. with an average depth of 3 ft., and food consisting of well rotted sheep maneur mixed V2 with black oil and by cutting down the inflow of water, we are able to get this into the 52 to 60 degree temperature range by sunlight. After the water is warm enough we then introduce our da- phne and let them reproduce at least 2 weeks before we stock with gray- ling. When they became 1 inch long we were able to hold 10,000 grayling until the spring and they are now 4 to 6 inches long. experimental work While this method of propagation has proven itself and we have made grayling plants of this size in ques- tionable water, it has not proven to be good management. After the or- iginal fish were caught this was the end of the fishing, for there had been 8 no reproduction. So future plantings of fingerling grayling should be made in proven waters and the ex- perimental work done with fry. When one views our present day fish cultural program it is easy to see why many states do not care to handle grayling. We are now oper- ating on a cost per pound production basis, and it takes many many gray- ling fry to make a pound. Stacked up against the myriad hours of labor put on a grayling battery, especially if the eggs come into the hatchery under much less than perfect condi- tion, it is an expensive and trouble- some operation. We have found in our work at the traps at Flint creek that the adult grayling will not stand as much handling as trout. It seems that they are more susceptible to the attack of fungus where scales are scraped from the fish in the tail area. Be- cause of this, one has to be very careful not to overcrowd the grayling pens if they are too green for spawn- ing and it appears that they will have to be held for some time. Another activity that has to be handled very carefully is the actual spawning operation. As stated above in order to get a good hatch, the eggs must be almost 100 per cent fertile. If a female is spawned and there is a broken egg in the pan you have to throw them away and start all over. egg breakage Egg breakage can be readily seen because it is very much like the These grayling are one year old, and are thriving in the rearing pond at Anaconda. Rainbow trout, the same age, are larger. .g time for the Rainbow br< white of a chicken egg broken in water. If a tiny particle of this mass covers the minute opening in the egg, it is impossible for the sperm to enter and if there are quite a number of these eggs in the take, while they do not turn white immediately, they will do so later on and attract the fungi spoors in the water. The spores will in turn attack the good eggs by wrapping their growing tentacles around them, smothering them, and forming what we call fungus clusters. When the clusters come to the sur- face of the jars they can be removed by a suction bulb or syphon hose but once they start to form, losses be- come heavy. Our greatest stocking policy is to plant from three to four million fry Anaconda hatchery. Lookit those babies jump! each year in the waters where they are known to flourish and to get as many in the high mountain virgin lakes as possible. Montana is still fortunate that it has these lakes where falls and other obstructions have prevented migrating fish from entering them. These lakes provide sanctuaries for future egg supplies and fishing for the hardy angler who is willing to put a pack on his back to get them. This policy has already proven itself. Heavy fishing pres- sure during the depression days and a winter kill in 1936 and 1937 almost knocked our egg supply from Georgetown lake out of the picture. It was necessary to turn to other sources. Lake Agnes on the Big (Continued on page 24) 10 Pond ^Ulilfia By JOHN COOK and JACK NICOLA Y, Glendive and Miles City Wardens Perhaps the first fish the anglers' thoughts turn to in the early spring is the bullhead. This is a recommend- ed cure for that well known malady "spring fever." Bullheads are suc- cessfully caught with several varie- ties of earthworms or with cut bait crappie fishing The fly fisherman is now looking longingly toward the shining moun- tains, and the fish he can practice his art on is the crappie. It is not neces- sary to spend the whole day in the pursuit of this fine pan fish. The The gentleman with the fish and the big grin the sport of fishing over, he's thinking of home, fished on the bottom. Inasmuch as the bullhead is a slow biter, the angler, while basking in the sunlight, will absorb the sun's healthful rays. To be really enjoyed, the bullhead should first be skinned and placed in a brine solution overnight. Then, dipped in milk and cornmeal and fried or broiled, it will thoroughly be enjoyed after a long winter's wait for fresh fish. is John Cook, deputy warden at Glendive. With and how his fish are going to look on the table. worker can start out at the end of his day's toil whether it be in an office or the field, as the crappie usually starts feeding in the late hours of the afternoon and continues until dark- ness falls. Crappies will take a dry fly; however, they are more readily taken with a streamer fished deep and retrieved to the surface with short jerks. Care must be taken (Continued on page 27) 11 tf-ilUe/Ue »;• - - i40^ * »V • Golly, 'hope Mom went ahead and cooked something else for dinner anyway. I'm kinda' hungry and tired. 'Kinda makes a feller a little weary, jist a'settin' on a log, soakin' in all that sunshine. 'Think I'll try out a big worm tomorrow. 16 On February 14, 1951, the Mon- tana Fish and Game Commission adopted a resolution providing com- petitive examinations for applicants to fill deputy game warden positions. This method is designed to provide the best men available to fill this im- portant position. The action will be hailed by sports- men throughout the state as being a step forward in building a better conservation organization. The ward- en force, since the creation of the game department has been a very important part of the fish and game organization, and the higher the qual- ity of the warden in the field, the greater is the possibility of conduct- ing a successful conservation pro- gram. In scanning back through the fifty- year history of the Montana Fish and Game Department, it is evident that during much of this time, the warden force served at the whim of the po- litical party in control. From 1901 until 1921 deputy game warden ap- pointments were made directly by the state game warden who was ap- pointed by the Governor for a def- By WALTER J. EVERIN Chief Deputy Game Warden inite term. With each change oi ad- ministration, there was a great turn- over of deputy game wardens. Under such a system, it was impossible to build up a staff of trained enforce- ment officers. removal for cause In 1917 the Legislature enacted laws which greatly improved the tenure of office of deputy game ward- ens by providing for their removal only for cause. Since this date, the regular appointed deputy game warden has been protected from po- litical changes of administration by having the opportunity to answer charges filed against him for re- moval, before the Fish and Game Commission. At the same time in 1921 that the legislature enacted laws to prevent removal of deputy game wardens ex- cept for cause, the legislature pro- hibited political activity of deputy game wardens by enacting into law the following provisions: "While retaining the right to vote as he may please, and to express his opinion on all political questions, no fish and game warden or deputy (Continued on page 23) 17 CLOWN OF THE By GENE H. SHERMAN District Warden Supervisor The river otter belongs to the weasel family. Its body is typical, lithe and long. It reaches a length of about 40-50 inches and weighs from 18-25 pounds. (Anthony, 1928) An adult female found dead in De- cember, 1950, on the Missouri River in Broadwater County measured as follows: Total length 49% inches, tail 19 inches and hind foot bVz inches. The tail tapers posteriorly. The feet are short, heavy and parti- ally webbed with five toes. The head is rather broad and flat with small ears and eyes of moderate size. The upper lips are large and support a mustache of stiff vibrissae. The pelage is composed of dense, thick underfur and long shiny guard hairs. The color is chocolate brown. native habitat My interest in the river otter arose when I had the opportunity to ob- serve a family of otters in their native habitat. In April of 1939, I was trudging along on snowshoes over seven feet of snow, along a small tributary of the lower Yukon river, 18 INLAND WATERS when a brown, bewhiskered head peered curiously over a snowbank. It gave me a thrill indeed to meet this stranger in a land that had ap- peared desolate and void of life. A closer inspection revealed three ot- ters as I looked down on the creek. They appeared curious at first, but soon disappeared under the bank. As I traveled on down the stream, I noticed many slides and an occas- ional pile of fish remains and blood stains on the snow, evidence of their frolicking behavior and their ability as fishermen. Since that time I have acquired a keen interest in this uncommon but interesting clown of the inland waters. Its diminishing numbers be- speaks its incompatibility with civ- ilization, unless protected. Its pres- ent status makes it a wildlife man- agement problem. Furthermore, a thorough knowledge of all basic facts pertinent to its life history should be the first approach to its management. The otter has been the victim of con- demnation from time to time by many irate and frequently unin- formed fishermen, but — let's take a look at the otter. Some work has been done to uncover and bring to light its peculiar characteristics, food habits, et cetra. These facts are worth revealing. characteristics This animal is specialized for ac- quatic life. Most of its activities are confined to the close proximity of rivers, streams, and lakes. This aquatic characteristic allows it to exist in several life zones, in both freshwater and marine habitats (Dalquest, 1948). Otters are extreme- ly powerful swimmers and it is re- ported that they are fast enough to catch trout or salmon in open chase. Another more common method re- portedly employed is to plunge into a deep pool, scare the fish into crevices and behind rocks, then methodically pull them out of their hiding places. Despite the ease with which an otter propels through the water, it often emerges and follows along the shore on land for many miles. In some instances, otters have been known to travel over land from one body of water to another. Playfulness is an outstanding char- acteristic. When traveling across snow and ice, its method is one of intermittent running and sliding. Its most noted antic is that of making slides from either high mud or snow banks. The old and young alike amuse themselves for considerable lengths of time on these slides. By the use of its voice the otter is able to express itself in a variety of sounds. (Liers, 1951) has described the sounds as a shrill chirp, a soft chuckle and a scream. Like other members of the weasel family they (Continued on page 24) 19 % k*^ m •a '* X ■•' \ X$;\ V*33 Sattiwcf, MantcutoJi £ii%ecta>i ttfildUjje Re4.to>uUlo*t The motors were idling and the big plane was losing elevation fast. I watched the trees and the rocks com- ing up toward us. Our objective now was dead ahead — a ridge leading down from the Continental Divide. The map which I held in my lap showed a red mark on that ridge — a mark indicating a salt drop. I glanced back across the glisten- ing blocks of salt to where our "bombardier" knelt gingerly in front of the plane's open door. Four fifty- pound blocks were nicely balanced on the trip board. He was watching the pilot for a signal. A glance ahead again showed the ridge rushing toward us. The pilot dropped his hand which had been 20 poised for a moment. The board was raised and the salt was tumbling through space. The three props of the big ship again bit hungrily into the early morning air. The salt for a moment seemed to be suspended, following along under us. The ridge was a little way ahead. Would it reach the target or fall short and go bound- ing down the steep side hill into the canyon below? We had seen it hap- pen so many times before, that we weren't surprised when the salt blocks hit squarely on the ridge top. They rolled a little way and then came to a stop. — Four small white specks in the beargrass, as we sped on to our next drop. Fifteen times the motors idled, and then roared again while we threaded our way among the mountain peaks to hit the series of drops worked out on our map. Back to the field, — and still so early in the morning that no one was about. Another load and then an- other, and the year's salt supply for 3,000 Sun River elk has distributed before the afternoon thunderheads had rolled up along the divide. It was spring. Many of the higher trails were still impassable to pack stock. Even if they had been open, it would have taken over a month of the hardest kind of ground travel to have done the job that was com- pleted that morning. How about the cost? It has been found that it costs no more to put out salt by plane in the remote back country than by pack stock. Either way it varies between three and seven cents per pound with an aver- age of five. spring salting In the late spring and early sum- mer elk and deer often linger on their critical winter range when they should be moving up into the high country. Natural licks on many of these winter ranges have helped re- tard this drift onto the summer ranges. The grass is far too valuable for the coming winter to be consumed at this time of the year. It has been found that salt if properly placed, will draw elk and deer to their high sum- mer pastures early in the season. This has been particularly well shown in the Sun River country. A number of years ago elk lingered around the natural licks on their win- ter range well into July. Grass in this vicinity was injured by heavy use. Raw earth and annual weeds were showing up on these concentration spots. In 1939 a complete salt plan was prepared and carried out. In 1942 (Continued on next page) Inside the salting plane, four salt blocks are in the doorway ready to be dropped as soon as the desired salting area is located. The truck backs up to load the aerial cargo, and the heavy work begins. for the first time, the distribution was made by airplane and has been put out in that way ever since. The elk reacted quickly to this carefully placed mineral supply. The undesirable spring and summer con- centrations about the licks has been greatly reduced. Badly needed for- age has been reserved for the critical winter months. Similar results have been gained on other mountain ranges. type of salt used Regular white block stock salt is being used for game throughout the state. Experimental work is being carried out on several mountain sheep ranges regarding possible min- eral deficiencies. Here supplemental minerals are being supplied in salt block form. Sulphur salt was used a few years ago as a possible aid in the control of ticks. Present information has in- dicated, however, that the amount of sulphur obtained through licking salt is apparently negligible and would have little if any effect upon ticks. nation-wide use of salt It is interesting to see that well over 22 half of the states are now using salt in their game management pro- grams. All of the eleven western states are participating. A list of the first six states in regard to volume of salt placed on game ranges indicates that Montana is third. 1. Idaho . .. 200 tons per year 2. Oregon .100-125 tons per year 3. Montana 80 tons per year 4. California 75 tons per year 5. Utah . 75 tons per year 6. Pennsylvania - 60-70 tons per year means of placement The airplane is playing an increas- ingly important part in getting salt out on the ranges of the west. Nine of the eleven states in this area re- port air distribution programs. The pack string should not be for- gotten. Through the years the Forest Service, guides, packers, dude ranch- ers, as well as the Fish and Game De- partment have moved many tons of salt via the trusty mule and horse. The pick-up truck is also important in areas near roads. By combining all of these methods, salt is now got- ten out into the mountains where it is needed, at the time of the year when it is most useful. Sail has also been found useful in holding game animals back in the more remote areas away from agri- cultural crops, particularly in the spring. Another use has been as bait in the trapping of bighorn sheep and the mountain goats as well as deer and elk for transplanting purposes. On ranges where these game animals have been recently introduced, salt is also used in holding them on these new ranges. Thus salt — whether it be dropped from a low-flying aircraft or unload- ed from the back of a sweaty mule far back in the mountains — is play- ing a vital role in today's game man- agement program. OUR WARDENS TAKE TESTS (Continued from page 17) shall take an active part in political management or political campaigns, nor shall he use his official authority or influence for the purpose of inter- fering with an election, or affecting the results thereof, or for the purpose of coercing or influencing the po- litical actions of any person or body." It is clear that it was the intent of the legislature to provide a tenure of office for deputy game wardens in return for the assurance that there would be no participation in political activities by the holders of warden appointments. In its order of February 19, the Commission has set the qualifica- tions for all applicants for the posi- tion of deputy game warden as fol- lows: 1. Age: Applicant must be be- tween the ages of 21 and 40. 2. Residence: Applicant must be a resident citizen for at least one year prior to application. 3. Education: Applicant must be a graduate of an accredited high school. 4. Physical Fitness: Applicant must be free of any disease or abnormality which tends to im- pair usefulness. When the first announcement of the examinations was publicized, the department received over 100 appli- cations to take the examinations. Of these, 87 were qualified to take the written portion of the test. Melvin Martinson of the State Merit System Council and L. G. Lansing of the State Unemployment Commis- sion contributed a great deal in set- ting up the form of examination. Sixty-six applicants appeared on hand to take the exam. After all the papers were graded, 36 applicants were notified that the department would further eliminate applicants by conducting an oral test. The oral portion of the exam- ination will be conducted by a board of review who will grade each ap- plicant on appearance, voice and speech, tact and friendliness, poise and bearing, ability to present ideas and judgment. Those who successfully pass the oral portion of the examination will be placed on an eligible list from which replacements will be made for vacancies in the warden service. 23 CLOWN OF THE INLAND WATERS (Continued from page 19) can give forth musk from their scent glands. They characteristically travel in groups. It has been re- ported that these groups may range as high as 14, but observations indi- cate that the group usually consist of a pair or the pair and their young of the year. The otter is active dur- ing the entire year. It travels mostly at night but occasionally in the day- time. If taken when they are young they make friendly pets. Except for man, these animals have few or no enemies. They are able to elude nearly all other animals powerful enough to be of concern to them. The dens are mostly underground burrows with an underwater opening and an air hole on the surface. In LONG LIVE OUR GRAYLING (Continued from page 7) Hole watershed was found to have a good run of grayling in its inlet. In order to make a thorough check on the situation we went in there during the run, built a temporary trap, and secured five gallons of eggs. These were packed out by man pack and were found to be of good quality. The next year pack horses were used and a tent for the caretaker was put up and permanent wooden traps were installed. Because of the rainy weather in high altitudes during May and June, and the heavy in- festation of wood ticks in that area, it was necessary for us to build a cabin. We used this source of sup- ply for a few years until we could get the Georgetown stock rebuilt. some cases the burrows are in hol- low logs and trees along the shore of a lake or stream. The otter population was probably never abundant. It is estimated that the primitive population over its range was an average of one otter per eight square miles (Seton, 1926). The cruising range of an otter family may extend as much as 50 miles or more. food habits The river otter is highly pisciverous (fish eater). Records show that the largest percentage of their food is forage fish. Other items of food are taken in lesser quantities. They have been reported to feed on ducks, muskrats, small beavers and poultry. Small mammals and birds are con- (Continued on page 26) competition Roger's lake in the Kalispell area is also well stocked with grayling and has been used for an egg sup- ply. There are some things that we have definitely learned where gray- ling are concerned, and one of these is that they cannot stand too great a competition from other trout. When our fisheries program was initiated years ago, the Eastern Brook trout was one of the main fish used in cul- tural operations and they were im- ported into the state from the east. The resulting fry were pretty gener- ally distributed and as a result of their affinity for our waters, they have almost driven the grayling and cutthroat trout from their natural habitat. In order to resecure these areas for grayling again it will be 24 necessary to take some vital steps to remove the Brook from them. One action that has been consid- ered is the lifting of the present creel limit on Brook in definite waters from the present 15 fish per day to 40 to 50 per day and then supplement this action with heavy planting of our native species. While arguments against such ac- tions might arise in conservation cir- cles it is the only logical way we can recapture these waters for our native species which I think is so important that we make every effort to main- tain. Iy OMSJUw'Z^ Just as humans become embar- rassed by unusual happenings, it ap- pears that wild animals also experi- ence the same feelings at times. I recall such an instance when a coyote got in an embarrassing posi- tion but covered up with dignity and poise. We were driving along the road in the car when we saw a coyote in the borrow pit, just a few feet off the shoulder of the road. He was not the least bit alarmed at our approach, so I coasted up to him, set the brake and jumped out at him. He had moved away from the road a few feet by the time I stopped, so I jumped out and "woofed" at him. He bared his teeth and trotted away from us, much disturbed by the intrusion. As he bounded off, he kept looking back over his shoulder, paying no attention to where he was going. He had gone maybe 50 feet when he tripped and fell headlong over a sage brush. Instead of get- ting up alarmed and running away, he got to his feet, looked at us, looked around to see if anyone had seen him, and then started digging at the foot of the sagebrush as much as to say, "that's what I figured to do anyway — methinks there's a mouse hereabouts." He would dig for a few seconds, look at us, dig some more, and fin- ally after a few minutes, he trotted on his way, saying (in animal language): "Imbarrassed — I thought I'd die!" 25 CLOWN OF THE INLAND WATERS (Continued from page 24) sidered a rare diet and taken only in emergencies, but frogs, crayfish, and freshwater clams form part of their normal diet in certain areas. In some studies crayfish have headed the list of foods. (Dalquest, 1948) reports that otter feces found in low land of west- ern Washington contained as high as 80 per cent crayfish remains. (Lagler, 1942) lists the food of 95 Michigan otters as revealed by stom- ach analysis. They contained 25.5 per cent amphibians, 22.7 per cent pan fish, 35.9 per cent forage fish, 7.4 per cent crayfish, 4.5 per cent miscellaneous vertebrates, 3.9 per cent fish remains, and 0.4 per cent insects. Another Michigan study (Anon., 1937) revealed 25.0 per cent pan and game fish, 50 per for- age fish, and 25 per cent crayfish, frogs and insects as indicated by the analysis of 229 otter stomachs. (Mac- lay, 1937) lists the food of the Idaho otter to consist largely of aquatic in- sect larvae and crayfish. Otter feces examined by the writer in the Gal- latin river in Montana consisted al- most entirely of Rocky Mountain Whitefish remains. A summary of the above indicates that the food of the otter consists largely of forage fishes and crayfishes. breeding habits The mating season is in winter (usually January to February). The gestation period is from 9 months 18 days to 12 months 15 days (Liers, 1951). The number of young is from 1 to 5 and there is but one litter a year. At birth the young have their eyes closed, which remain this way for about 35 days. commercial value Since the days of the early trap- pers and fur traders, the otter pelt has been a valuable item in the fur industry. This fur is dense and beautiful; considered to be one of the most durable furs. Records from the Hudson Bay Company show that during an 85 year period, from 1821 to 1905, they purchased 890,901 otter skins, and recently the otter take in Michigan was about 10 otter for every 500 miles of stream (Jenk- ins, 1951). present status The otter population over its entire range is very low. Continual per- secution by man has reduced the otter population to the extent that most States have afforded the otter rigid protection. In Montana the sea- son has been closed periodically. An open season was allowed during the winter of 1949-1950 but the catch was negligible, which suggests a low population. My observations over the State during the past few years indicate this to be true. It seems advisable that a law re- quiring the tagging of otter pelts be enacted in Montana, prior to future open seasons so that population and management data may be obtained. It is doubtful if the present popula- tion here will warrant an open sea- son for several years, but with rigid protection and an open minded atti- tude on the part of the sportsmen this fur-bearer may make a come- back in the more primitive areas of the state. 26 Jack Nicolay, Miles City Warden, displays an example of what warm water fishing has to offer. POND FISHING (Continued from page 11) when setting the hook, as the mouth of the crappie is very tender and the hook can easily be born from it with- out the angler's noticing it. As a golfer keeps his eye on the ball, so must the angler keep his eye on the fly as it is worked toward the surface. It is of the utmost import- ance that he sees the fish take the lure, and at that precise moment sets the hook. If he is late in doing so, the fish, sensing that the lure is arti- ficial, will spit out the hook before the angler realizes that he has had a strike. Of all the flesh of the various warm water species, none is more acclaimed than the crappie. It is particularly enjoyable when it is fried or broiled to a crispy brown. Eaten with potato chips or french fries, it is a dish that will tantalize the palate of the most demanding epicurean. In the early hours of the morning the northern pike is on the prowl seeking victims to relieve his vor- acious appetite. It is at this hour that this battleship of the warm water species is mostly readily taken. This late-comer to the eastern Montana waters, introduced primarily as a control fish, has attracted a wide following in his short time here. That is because of his savage, slashing, attack; his unpredictable acrobatics both above and below the surface and the readiness with which he takes both natural and artificial lures thereby pleasing not only the purists, but the bait fishermen as well. An- glers travel great distances in quest of this great battler not only for his white meat, baked and stuffed with mushroom dressing, and garnished with parsley. On the other hand it gives a taxidermist pride in preserv- ing a trophy that no one need be ashamed of. big black bass As the water temperature rises aquatic life becomes more abundant and the small fish feed, temporarily forgetful of the danger lurking in the form of large mouth black bass. In the early morning and late evening this temperamental fish is most easily caught. The angler must be (Continued on next page) 27 cautious and approach bass waters with great care, being careful not to be seen by the bass. Should artificial lures be used, they should be presented in as lifelike a manner as possible. While bass are often taken with weird lures we shouldn't forget there are times when, in order to take him, we must use as nearly precise an imitation as possible and be far more careful in our technique than for other fish. Care must be taken when the bass is first hooked that he is not allowed to get into deep water and tangle the line in the weeds. This is particu- larly true when one uses light tackle. As the bass is brought in the angler must not be fooled when he plays possum as many a sadder and wiser one can tell you he lost a fine fish in a last unexpected burst of power. Hod and Qun tyust, Yearly the Glendive Rod and Gun Club sponsors a fish derby at Johnson's reservoir. This event has grown in popularity with each year. It is staged like an old fash- ioned picnic and holds a great attraction for young and old. There is a sports program for all ages and both sexes. The derby itself begins at 6 o'clock in the morning and con- tinues until noon. All fish must be registered no later than 12:15 if they are to be eligible for prizes. There are prizes for all ages and all sexes, and it is a sight to gladden any heart when some of the youngest "Izzac Waltons" come forward to claim their prizes. The prizes range from fishing articles of lasting values for the young- sters to cash prizes for the old- sters. At noon everyone eats the picnic lunch they brought and this is augmented by free pop and ice cream for all. If the derby should happen to fall on a cool day weiners, hot dogs and coffee are provided by the club. After lunch the sports pro- grams are run off with races for all, a rolling pin and nail pounding contest for the ladies. The winners of the Derby are then announced and given their prizes. A fly and bait casting contest follows and more take part each year. The day's events wind up with boat races for all classes of motors. The theme of the event is to bring about a closer feeling of comradeship as ranchers, farm- ers, and city folks realize that regardless of the walk of life all true lovers of nature are united as sportsmen. When carefully scaled and cleaned, the bass is excellent stuffed with dressing and baked. A good tarter sauce will add zest to the juicy meat. Skinned and cut in pieces, then dipped in a batter of salt, milk, egg, and cornmeal and fried in deep fat, its flavor is delicious. All this com- bined with his elusiveness is what prompts the sportsman to return again and again to his haunts to match wits with this great fish. colorful blue gill As the day grows older and the sun rises high, the blue gill comes to the surface and this is the time that young and old can enjoy fishing for this colorful fish, perhaps the best known of the warm water fish. This little beauty readily takes a variety of live bait such as: grasshoppers, grubs, worms; and when taken with light tackle and dry flies, is ounce for ounce the scrappiest of all fish, Fried in butter, the sweet firm flesh defies description. It must be stated that no lure or lures can be named which will pro- duce results in all ponds. Each pond is a separate challenge to the angler. It is a proven fact that the feeding habits of these fish vary with local- ities in which they are found. Various pet theories must be tried and retried until at last they become factual in catching fish. REQUEST SPORTING MONTANA for your friends it's free . Another Service to the Sportsman from the MONTANA FISH & GAME DEPARTMENT fust write to: SPORTING MONTANA Montana Fish & Game Department Helena, Montana DR. J.W. SEVERY MONTANA STATE MTSSOULi 7T l * 'o Sec. 34.66, P. L. U. S. POST^