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Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, Fisheries Division records, 1906-1991

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Montana. Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. Fisheries Division.
Title
Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, Fisheries Division records
Dates
1906-1991 (inclusive)
Quantity
8.2 linear feet
Collection Number
RS 497 (Formerly RS 261)
Summary
This collection is a subgroup (Division) of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks records, RS 497. Please see the primary finding aid for more Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks records. Records (1906-1991) from the Fisheries Division consist of general correspondence, minutes, financial records, hatchery activity logs, lake and stream survey cards, reports, subject files, and clippings.
Repository
Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov
Access Restrictions

Collection open for research.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Historical Note

Montana passed its first laws related to fish regulation in 1864, governing the manner in which fish could be caught. Additional laws governing fish were passed in the ensuing years and fish stocking occurred in many rivers and lakes, but it was not until 1896 that the first fish hatchery was built in Montana. Located on Bridger Creek near Bozeman, this hatchery was built by the federal government and operated under the direction of Dr. James Henshall. In 1901, the Montana Department of Fish and Game was organized, with W. F. Scott appointed as the first State Game Warden. By 1907, regulations on fishing were on the rise, with the requirement of a license for both resident and non-resident fisherman.

The first state fish hatchery was approved by the 1907 Legislative Assembly and was built in Anaconda in 1908 under the direction of C. F. Healea. The Anaconda hatchery was credited with noticeably increasing the number of fish in Montana streams and produced primarily blackspotted or cutthroat trout. Additional hatcheries were built in the ensuing years, including those at Somers (1912), Emigrant (1919), Lewistown (1922), Great Falls (1922), Big Timber (1922), Red Lodge (1922), and Ovando (1922). In 1913, the position of hatchery superintendent was created to oversee the expanded fish hatchery program. The first superintendent was H. D. Dean. The first fisheries biologist was requested in 1924, but not hired until 1947.

Additional fish hatcheries were built throughout the next decade, including the Miles City Pond Culture Station and the Ennis fish hatchery in 1933. Also during the 1930s, under Superintendent K. F. MacDonald, the division initiated a survey crew to study streams in the hatchery areas. Several spawning stations, including those at Flint Creek, Stewart Mill Creek, Ashley Lake and Hebgen Lake, were constructed. Several additional construction projects at the various hatcheries were completed during the 1930s through assistance from federal relief work programs.

In 1947 a biology section was created in the Fisheries Division, headed by C. K. Phenicie, to implement more scientific studies of the hatcheries in the state. Additional hatcheries were constructed in the following years and educational programs were developed within the division to educate the public on fish and fisheries. During the 1950s several dams were constructed in Montana that effected the development of the fisheries division in Montana; these include the Tiber Dam and the Canyon Ferry Dam. Also during this time, the fisheries division was changed from having several district-based supervisors to one statewide hatchery supervisor. Pollution was recognized as a problem in 1957 and appropriate staff positions were created to address it.

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Content Description

Records (1906-1991) from the Fisheries Division of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks consist of general correspondence (1930-1988); minutes (1940-1991); financial records (1910-1970); hatchery activity logs (1920-1965); lake and stream survey cards; reports (1906-1990); subject files (1879-1990); and clippings (1964). (Photographs were separated to the Photograph Archives).

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collection. In some cases permission for use may require additional authorization from the copyright owners. For more information contact an archivist.

Preferred Citation

Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Library & Archives, Helena, Montana.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is arranged by series.

Location of Collection

120:9-1

Processing Note

In 2024, the various collections of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks were integrated under one collection identifier, RS 497, in order to help facilitate access, reduce redundancy in the Montana Historical Society Library & Archives catalog, and to follow best archival practices.

Collections from Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks' various Divisions and Commissions that were previously treated as separate entities are now integrated into this collection, RS 497. Rather than reprocessing over 17 linear feet of FWP materials, MTHS staff decided to keep the past arrangement of those collections/finding aids and provide access to them via links in the master finding aid. This decision has allowed the MTHS archival staff to maintain intellectual control over the collection, while removing the need to reprocess it. It also keeps State Agency finding aids at manageable sizes. Please read the scope and content note carefully to determine if this subgroup pertains to your research needs.

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information is available upon request.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection

  • General Correspondence

    • Description: Correspondence (correspondents include John W. Schofield, H. H. Koessler, Leo Gilroy, Robert Yellowtail, A. G. Stubblefield, A. A. O'Claire)
      Dates: 1930-1949
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 1
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Correspondence (correspondents include R. H. Lambeth, Iver Hoglund, Walter M. Allen, Ovie N. Woolverton, A. A. O'Claire, V. K. Roberts, Johnny Spindler, Jack E. Bailey, Bob Turnbull, Don. L. Brown)
      Dates: 1950-1959
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 2
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Correspondence (correspondents include Don L. Brown, Forest Keller, Cliff Hill, Eugene McBride, William Alvord, Wade Fredenberg, Walter J. Everin)
      Dates: 1960-1990, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 3
      Location: General Correspondence

  • Financial Records

    • Description: Ledger: Anaconda Fish Hatchery
      Dates: 1910-1915
      Container: Volume Vol. 1
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Ledger: Great Falls Fish Hatchery (also includes McNeil, Libby and Lewistown)
      Dates: 1937-1940, 1955
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 4
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Ledger: Great Falls Fish Hatchery
      Dates: 1940-1970
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 5-10
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Per diem accounts: Great Falls Fish Hatchery
      Dates: 1958-1960
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 11
      Location: Financial Records

  • Log Books

    • Description: Daily activities: Emigrant Fish Hatchery
      Dates: 1920-1925
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 12
      Location: Log Books
    • Description: Daily activities: Great Falls Fish Hatchery
      Dates: 1961-1965
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 13
      Location: Log Books
    • Description: Daily activities: Hamilton Fish Hatchery (includes WPA activities in 1937)
      Dates: 1924-1961
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 14-18
      Location: Log Books

  • Minutes

    • Description: Annual division meetings
      Dates: 1954-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 1-4
      Location: Minutes
    • Description: Fish managers meetings
      Dates: 1984-1991
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 5-7
      Location: Minutes
    • Description: Fish staff meetings
      Dates: 1985-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 8
      Location: Minutes
    • Description: Hatchery managers meetings
      Dates: 1984-1987
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 9
      Location: Minutes
    • Description: Miscellaneous meetings
      Dates: 1940-1970
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 10
      Location: Minutes

  • Reports

    • Description: Cost in Relation to Size of Hatchery Trout by Jack E. Bailey
      Dates: 1959
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 11
      Location: Reports
    • Description: End of year project reports
      Dates: 1987-1990
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 12-14
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Five Year Fish Distribution and Management Plans -- Arlee, Hamilton and Polson Districts
      Dates: 1948-1952
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 15
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Flint Creek Hatchery Study
      Dates: 1954-1960, 1978
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 16
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Instructions for Stream and Lake Survey Work
      Dates: 1935
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 17
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Job completion reports
      Dates: 1953-1954
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 18
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Joint Survey by U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Montana Fish and Game Department of the Great Falls and Lewistown Fish Hatcheries
      Dates: 1956
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 19
      Location: Reports
    • Description: A list of the fishes of Montana
      Dates: 1906
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 20
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Quarterly progress reports, restoration section
      Dates: 1952
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 21
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Report of distribution: Emigrant Hatchery
      Dates: 1931-1947
      Container: Volume Vol. 2
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Report of distribution: Libby Hatchery
      Dates: 1931-1960
      Container: Box/Folder Vols. / 3-4
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Report of distribution: Polson Hatchery
      Dates: 1931-1947
      Container: Volume Vol. 5
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Report of distribution: Somers Hatchery
      Dates: 1931-1943
      Container: Volume Vol. 6
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Report of distribution: state-wide
      Dates: 1928, 1933-1952
      Container: Box/Folder Vols. / 7-13
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Salmanoid Game Fishes in the National Forests of the Pacific Northwest
      Dates: 1935
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 22
      Location: Reports

  • Subject Files

    • Description: 1964 Centennial flood
      Dates: 1964-1966
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 23
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Fish hatcheries and hatchery managers (list of)
      Dates: 1908-1970
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 24
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Fisheries notes, including notes on history of Montana hatchery system
      Dates: 1967-1971
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 25
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Glacier View dam
      Dates: 1956-1965
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 26
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Glacier National Park
      Dates: 1966-1970
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 27
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Hatcheries: Anaconda
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 28
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Hatcheries: Great Falls (includes daily feed charts, production sheets, and temperature records)
      Dates: 1944-1956
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 29-32
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Hatcheries: Lake Ronan
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 33
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Hatcheries: Polson
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 34
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Helena valley regulating reservoir
      Dates: 1966-1982
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 35
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Knowles dam
      Dates: 1961-1963
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 36
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Long Meadow dam
      Dates: 1959-1962
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 37
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Missouri Breaks
      Dates: 1961-1971
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 38
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Missouri River basin studies (OVERSIZE: map case)
      Dates: 1953-1969
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 39-40
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Ninemile Prairie dam
      Dates: 1957-1959
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 41
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Paradise dam
      Dates: 1948, 1957-1961
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 42
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Spruce Park dam
      Dates: 1957-1960
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 43
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Sun Butte dam (OVERSIZE: map case)
      Dates: 1952-1967
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 44
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Sun Butte dam (OVERSIZE: map case)
      Dates: 1952-1967
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 44
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Yellowtail dam (OVERSIZE: map case)
      Dates: 1959-1967
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 45
      Location: Subject Files

  • Miscellany

    • Description: Articles -- miscellaneous
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 47
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Lake and stream survey card (includes water analysis, stream summary, notes and references, and water temperature)
      Dates: 1972-1974
      Container: Box/Folder 3-5 /
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Miscellaneous
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 49
      Location: Miscellany

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Fish populations

Geographical Names

  • Anaconda (Mont.)
  • Emigrant (Mont.)
  • Great Falls (Mont.)
  • Hamilton (Mont.)
  • Knowles Dam (Mont.)
  • Libby (Mont.)
  • Missouri Breaks Region (Mont.)
  • Paradise Dam (Mont.)
  • Polson (Mont.)
  • Somers (Mont.)
  • Yellowtail Dam (Mont.)

Finding aid prepared by MTHS Staff; Updated by Lindsey Mick
2004; 2024

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