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Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, Fisheries Division records, 1906-2001

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
1906-2001 (inclusive)
Quantity
8.8 linear feet (7 boxes, 13 volumes)
Collection Number
RS 261_RS 497
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 (1906-2001) from the Fisheries Division consist of general correspondence, minutes, financial records, hatchery activity logs, lake and stream survey cards, reports, subject files, and miscellaneous.
Repository
Montana Historical Society, Library and Archives
Montana Historical Society, Library and Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 406-444-2681
Fax: 406-444-5297
mthslibrary@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 affected 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 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.

As of 2026, the Fisheries Division continues operating within the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. It oversees fishing regulations, general fishing seasons, fishing licenses, fish hatcheries and fish stocking. The Division also keeps track of fish populations, species distribution, invasive species, and fish diseases.

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Content Description

Records (1906-2001) from the Fisheries Division consist of general correspondence, financial ledgers, minutes (primarily from Fish Managers Meetings), hatchery activity logs, reports (including studies, surveys, distribution reports, and quarterly progress reports), subject files (primarily regarding various Montana dams), and miscellaneous records (including lake and stream survey cards).

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Researchers must use the collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society Library & Archives. The Library & Archives 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 into seven series:

Series 1: General Correspondence

Series 2: Financial

Series 3: Log Books

Series 4: Minutes

Series 5: Reports

Series 6: Subject Files

Series 7: Miscellany

Location of Collection

32: 4-7 (Boxes 1-5); 20: 4-1 (Boxes 6-7); 156: 1-7 (Volumes)

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.

Additional materials were tipped into this collection in 2026.

Separated Materials

Photographs were separated to the Photograph Archives.

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information is available upon request.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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

Names and Subjects

Subject Terms

  • Dams
  • Fish hatcheries
  • Fish populations
  • Fishery management
  • Fishes--Diseases
  • Fishing
  • Hatchery fishes
  • Wildlife conservation

Corporate Names

  • Montana. Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks
  • Montana. Fisheries Division

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; 2026

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