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NATURAL HISTORY

SURVEY.

STATE OF ILLINOIS

Adlai E. Stevenson, Governor

DEPARTMENT OF REGISTRATION AND EDUCATION
C. Hobart Engle, Director

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES
OF ILLINOIS RIVERS:

A Statistical Report for 1950
William C. Starrett and Sam A. Parr

COMMERCIAL FISHERIES OF ILLINOIS RIVERS:
A Statistical Report for 1950

WILLIAM C. STARRETT AND SAM A. PARR*

Many Illinoisans not residing near one of the large rivers of their state are
surprised to learn that commercial fishing is an important industry here. This in-
dustry is reported to have provided, in 1950, full-time employment for 253 Illinois
fishermen and part-time work for 442, table 1. These fishermen are calculated to
have caught 8,954,015 pounds of fish that, at average local undressed prices, were |
valued at $ 682,260.85, tables 2and3. They are estimated to have had $ 748,049.50
invested in tackle and equipment, table 4.

Carp, buffalofishes, freshwater drum, and catfishes comprised the bulk of
the 1950 river catch; other species were of some commercial significance, table 5.

Along some sections of the riversthe entire 1950 catch was sold locally. Most
of the catch not sold locally was shipped to markets in Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas

City, Missouri, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Nashville, and Indianapolis.

The last previous complete survey of the state’s river fisheries was made

relative to the 1931 catch (Fiedler 1933). The present report includes statistics of

*/ The writers, William C. Starrett, Associate Aquatic Biologist, Illinots
Natural History Survey, and Sam A. Parr, Superintendent, Division of Fisheries,
Illinois Department of Conservation, wish to acknowledge \the splendid co-operation
given by Mr. Sam Carney, Jr., Chief, Division of Law Enforcement, Illinois Department
of Conservation, and by the conservation officers who, during January, February, and
March, 1951, collected from Illinois professional commercial fishermen the statisti-
cal data presented 1n this report. They express thetr appreciation to Dr. George W.
Bennett, Aquatic Biologist of the Illinois Natural History Survey, and Mr. James Se
Ayars, Technical Editor of the Survey, for aid in the preparation of this report.

ZO fe

only professional commercial fishermen residing in Illinois. By definition for this
report, a professional commercial fishermanis a person purchasing tagsor licenses

for five or more nets.

The catchof such fishermen fromthe Illinois and Mississippi rivers amount-
ed to 93.9 per centof the total 1950 commercial catch fromthe rivers within or bor-
dering Illinois (except the Ohio River proper). The catch from the Wabash River
ranked third, 1.9 per cent of the total catch. The remainder of the reported 1950
catch was from the Little Wabash River, Skillet Fork, Sangamon River, Kaskaskia
River, Rock River, Fox River and Chain O’ Lakes, Big Muddy River, Cache River,
Lake Creek, Saline River, backwater areas of the Ohio River (Ohio River proper not
included in this report), Embarrass River, and Horseshoe Lake near Granite City,

Illinois, tables 2 and 3.

Commercial fisherman with hoop net and basket trap on the Mississippi River near
Hamilton, Illinois.

aon

The Illinois River commercial fishery is confined to the Ottawa-Grafton sec-
tion of the river. Above Ottawa, pollution makes the fish unfit for commercial use.
Between La Salle and Ottawa, in the Starved Rock Pool, the reported catch was
10,315 pounds, worth $705.52, tables 6 and 7. In the Peoria Pool, between Peoria
and La Salle, the reported yield was 2,790,765 pounds, worth $105,668.96. These
differencesin yields betweenthe Peoria Pool, Starved Rock Pool, and the river above
Ottawa demonstrate one of the economic effects that pollution has on the river. Be-
cause of better water conditions in the Peoria Pool, 46 persons in 1950 were reported
able to earn their entire living by fishing and 44 others part of their earnings, where-
as, above Ottawa, no income was reported from river fishing. The total yield from
the Illinois River in 1950 was reportedas 5,617,927 pounds, worth $ 335,548.69. Carp
comprised 70.2 per cent of this catch. The bullhead fishery ofthe state is now limit-
ed largely to the Peoria and La Grange pools of the Illinois River. [Illinois River
fishermen reported that their investment in tackle and equipment was $ 395,967.00,
table 8.

Illinois professional commercial fishermen are reported to have caught
2,788,073 pounds of fishfrom the MississippiRiver in 1950, table 9. This catch was
calculatedas worth $ 297,045.23, table 10. Buffalofishes outranked carp in poundage
and value. The reported catfish catch of 396,908 pounds from the Mississippi was
worth $93,462.70. Mississippi River fishermen from Illinois reported that in 1950
they had $ 274,367.00 invested in tackle and equipment, table 11. The highest com-
mercial yields in the Illinois section of the Mississippi River were from navigation
pools 19 (Keokuk Pool) and 26 (Alton Pool). In the past decade commercial fishing

in the Mississippi has declined in the Alton-Cairo section because of pollution.

ws

Hoop nets and wing nets are estimated to have caught 46.7 per cent of the
1950 river catch. These devices were used on all the rivers fished commercially in
1950. The species and calculated poundages of fish caught in hoop nets are given in
table 12.

More fish were taken with seines from the Illinois River thanfrom any of the
other rivers, table 13. On the Illinois and Mississippi rivers large hauls of carp and
buffalofishes often are made with seines fished under theice during the winter months.

In Illinois the use of the trammel net is restricted by law to the Mississippi
River andto the Illinois River below the Peoria dam. Carp and buffalofishes domina-
ted the 1959 catch taken with trammel nets from the Illinois and Mississippi rivers,
table 14.

The basket trap is estimated to have taken 52.3 per cent of the Mississippi
River catch of catfish. While this fishing device was used primarily for catfish and
bullheads, other fishes were taken occasionally with it, table 15.

Hooks were used commercially on trotlines and throw lines on most of the
rivers. Carp and catfish made up the greater part of the catch taken on this type of

gear, table 16.

Literature Cited

Fiedler, R. H.

1933. Fishery industries of the United States, 1932. U.S. Commr, Fisheries
Rep. for 1933: 149-449. (App. 3.)

Table 1.--Reported number of full-time and part-time commercial fisher-
men actively engaged in river fishing in Illinois during 1950. (Only those fishermen
were included in this or following tables who had purchased tagsor licenses for five
or more nets.)

Little Wabash
River and
Skillet Fork

Illinois
River

Type of
Fisherman

Wabash
River

Mississippi
River

Sangamon
River

Full time
Part time

Type of
Fisherman

Big Muddy
River

Kaskaskia Rock Fox River and
River River Chain O’ Lakes

Full time
Part time

Cache River,
Lake Creek,
Saline River,

and Backwaters
of Ohio River

Type of
Fisherman

Embarrass Horseshoe Lake,

Granite City

Full time
Part time

Table 2.--Reported catch in pounds of fish taken from Illinois rivers by II-

linois commercial fishermen in 1950.

Little Wabash

Illinois | Mississippi | Wabash } River and Sangamon

Kind of Fish River River River Skillet Fork River
Carp 3,943,974 936,295 48,550
Buffalofishes 1,339,429 LOZ S 2a 32,250
Drum 108,385 365,512 5,285
Catfishes 105,554 396,908 B15
Bullheads 80,872 5,847 1,000
Shovelnose sturgeon 90 2,809 =e
Paddlefish 26,249 41,843 --
Suckers 972 4,020 350
Carpsuckers IL (e)53 70 2509 500
Mooneye!/ -- --
Bowfin IO, 525 --
Eel 20 =

1/ Mooneye also includes goldeye.

Table 2 (continued).--Reported catch in pounds of fish taken from Illinois

rivers by Illinois commercial fishermen in 1950.

Kaskaskia Rock Fox River and
River River Chain O'Lakes

Big Muddy
River

Kind of Fish

Carp 19,167
Buffalofishes 7,415
Drum 849
Catfishes 396
Bullheads a

Shovelnose sturgeon
Paddlefish

Suckers
Carpsuckers
Meencyes!

Bowfin

Eel

1/ Mooneye also includes goldeye.

Table 2 (concluded).--Reported catch in pounds of fish taken from Illinois rivers by

Illinois commercial fishermen in 1950,

Cache River,
Lake Creek,
Saline River,
and Backwaters | Embarrass | Horseshoe Lake,

Kind of Fish of Ohio River River Granite City Total
Carp 5,174,147
Buffalofishes 2,524,318
Drum 489,176
Catfishes 5305252
Bullheads 100,887
Shovelnose sturgeon 9,540
Paddlefish 72,241
Suckers SSS
Carpsuckers 27,964
Minera ye 225
Bowfin adel
Eel 1,629
Total 8,954,015

1/ Mooneye also includes goldeye.

Table 3.--Calculated value of the reported catch of fish taken from [Illinois

: : ‘ 1 ' |
rivers by Dlinois commercial fishermen in 1950,L/ :

Little Wabash
River and
Skillet Fork2/

Tllinois
River

Wabash
River

Mississippi
River

Kind of Fish

Carp $161,418.49 | $ 47,786.72 6,778.21 $1,286.12
Buffalofishes 124,989.03 108,426.07 3,844.26 1,865.52
Drum 10,354.40 37,491.90 1,095.10 326.18 |
Catfishes 21,414.62 93,462.70 4,043.25 509.00 )
Bullheads WARES DGS: 1,170.84 149.10 BRAS:
Shovelnose sturgeon 9.90 625.80 1,368.05 -- :
Paddlefish 4,202.64 C5205 651/ 750.31 38.00
Suckers 5535 135.80 154.57 61.49
Carpsuckers 100.28 338.52 695.66 --
mseneyes 4.25 --
Bowfin 7.00 10.64

Eel 92.06 66.80

Total $ 335,548.69

$297,045.23 |$18,976.14

af Illinois River and Mississippi River valuesare based on the average re-
ported species wholesale (undressed) price for each navigation pool. For the other
rivers the average reported species wholesale (undressed) price for each respec-
tive river is used except where stated otherwise.

$ 4,169.00

Q, No wholesale (undressed) prices available; Wabash River prices used.

a7 Mooneye also includes goldeye.

Shores

Table 3 (continued),.--Calculated value of the reported catchof fishtaken from

Illinois rivers by Illinois commercial fishermen in 1950. V/

Sangamon eye ia Rock Fox River and
River Eee River Chain O’ Lakes

Big Muddy
River 2/

Kind of Fish

Carp $1,699.25 | $1,288.36 ZOU ae $ 2,444.50 SealgeroD
Buffalofishes 2,580.00 (Sco TROOS ee 120 941.71
Drum 422.80 11.56 115.46
Catfishes 1,443.75 B))G8)5) 93.46
Bullheads 150.00 VaK9D =e

Shovelnose sturgeon
Paddlefish
Suckers
Carpsuckers

5
Mooneye—
Bowfin

Eel

$ 2,338.98

$6,330.80 |$ 2,127.21 °°) $1,531.20 $ 2,463.20

1/ Illinois River and Mississippi River values are basedon the average re-
ported species wholesale (undressed) price for each navigation pool. For the other
rivers the average reported species wholesale (undressed) price for each respec-
tive river is used except where stated otherwise.

2/ No wholesale (undressed) prices available; Pool No. 26 Mississippi Riv-
er prices used.

Su Mooneye also includes goldeye.

=Jtile

Table 3 (concluded).--Calculated value ofthe reported catch of fish taken from

Illinois rivers by Illinois commercial fishermen in 1950, iy

Kind of Fish
Carp
Buffalofishes
Drum
Catfishes
Bullheads
Shovelnose sturgeon
Paddlefish
Suckers
Carpsuckers
Riceuewes!
Bowfin

Eel

Cache River,
Lake Creek,
Saline River
and Backwaters
of Ohio Rivers)

Embarrass

Horseshoe Lake,
River 3/

Granite City

$1,140.74 $ 173.54 $2,104.25

4,246.37 100.44 779.94

204.00

431.64 148.50

2,327.50

$ 682,260.85

$ 227,576.25

249,586.78
50,021.40
121,687.85
16,313.50
2,003.75
12,494.52
492.21
1,239.46
4.25
581.99

258,89

1/ Illinois River and Mississippi River values are basedon the average re-
ported species wholesale (undressed) price for each navigation pool. For the other
rivers the average reported species wholesale (undressed) price for each respec-
tive river is used except where stated otherwise.

2/ No wholesale (undressed) prices available; Pool No. 26 Mississippi Riv-

er prices used.

3/ No wholesale (undressed) prices available; Wabash River prices used.

4/ Mooneye also includes goldeye.

==

Table 4.--Reported estimated value of fishing devices and equipment used by

Illinois commercial fishermen on the various rivers of Illinois in 1950.

Little Wabash
Wabash River and
River Skillet Fork

Illinois
River

Fishing Devices
and Equipment

Mississippi
River

Fishing Devices

Seines $ 40,420.00 $ 10,516.00

2,692.50

Trammel nets Toa)

Hoop nets 66,443.00 61,254.00 8,430.50 $ 2,885.00
Baskets 2,294.00 13598550 75.00 100.00
Hooks 460.00 1,310.00 201.00 1.00
Equipment
Small boats $ 32,630.00 $ 21,291.00 $ 2,135.00 $ 649.00
Outboard motors 29,780.50 30,547.00 BS 9)50 1,732.00
Inboard motor

launches 21,550.00 17,150.00 30.00 --
Trucks 57,110.00 Mal DaOW 2,925.00 90.00
Refrigeration

equipment 17,280.00 15,794.00 1,950.00 225.00
Buildings 99,645.00 30,960.00 1,680.00 1,075.00
Miscellaneous

equipment 25,662.00 9,074.00 Hel 0 290.00

Total $ 283,657.50 $ 182,091.00 $ 14,973.00 $ 4,061.00
Grand total $ 395,967.00 $ 274,367.00 $ 23,779.50 $ 7,047.00

ae

Table 4 (continued).--Reported estimated value of fishing devices and equip- {

: A . P oon §
ment usedby Illinois commercial fishermen onthe various rivers of Illinoisin 1950.

Fox River

Fishing Devices Sangamon Kaskaskia Rock 1/ and ite Muddy
and Equipment River River River—’ |ChainO'Lakesl} River
Fishing Devices

Seines 590.00 $ 1,300.00 $ 150.00
Trammel nets 100.00 ee
Hoop nets 2,520.00 | $2,119.00 1,315.00
Baskets 633.50 292.00 12.00
Hooks 2.50 -- 23.00
Total $ 2,413.50 $ 1,500.00

Equipment
Small boats $41,337.00 |S U5290.00/ 1 | S$ 75.00 $ 500.00
Outboard motors 2,660.00 1,638.00 750.00 629.00
Inboard motor

launches 65.90 =5
Trucks 1,150.00 430.00 1, 225200
Refrigeration

equipment 1,105.00 160.00
Buildings 1,000.00 688.00 .
Miscellaneous

equipment 110.00 28.00 75.00 1,500.00 140.00

Total $ 7,362.00 | $4,401.00 |$1,010.00 $4,325.00 | $3,342.00
Grand total $11,205.50 | $6,814.50 |$ 2,624.00 $5,625.00 | $4,842.00

if Designated as a fish preserve.

-14-

Table 4 (concluded).--Reported estimated value of fishing devices and equip-

ment used by Illinois commercial fishermen onthe various rivers of Illinoisin 1950.

Cache River,
Lake Creek,
Saline River,
Fishing Devices and Backwaters} Embarrass| Horseshoe Lake,
and Equipment of Ohio River River Granite City Total

Fishing Devices

Seines $ 285.00 $ 950.00 $ 54,811.00
Trammel nets 8,790.00
Hoop nets $ 485.00 1,300.00 149,441.50
Baskets 60.00 25.00 16,690.00
Hooks 2,089.50
Equipment
Small boats $1,098.00 $ ~ 725.00 $ 62,920.00
Outboard motors 1,190.06 600.00 75,500.00
Inboard motor

launches 38,795.00
Trucks 4,300.00 126,130.00
Refrigeration

equipment 37,469.00
Buildings 136,498.00
Miscellaneous

equipment 75.00 385915. 50
Total SS loe2 2-50

Grand total

$ 8,871.00 $1,122.00

-15-

$ 748,049.50

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==

Table 9.--Reported catch in pounds of fish taken from the Mississippi River

by Illinois commercial fishermen in 1950.

Pool No. 12] Pool No. 13} Pool No. 14] Pool No. 15] Pool No.

61,633
Peshie3
14,066
29,331

Kind of Fish

Carp

Buffalofishes

Drum

Catfishes

Bullheads
Shovelnose sturgeon
Paddlefish

Suckers
Carpsuckers
Mooneyel.

Bowfin

Eel

Kind of Fish

167,713
102,980

Carp
Buffalofishes

Drum 79,768
Catfishes ale Or
Bullheads 1,500
Shovelnose -sturgeon 200
/Paddlefish 5,355

Suckers
Carpsuckers

1/ Mooneye also includes goldeye.

=7Ail=

Table 9 (concluded).--Reported’ catch in pounds of fish taken from the

Mississippi River by Illinois commercial fishermen in 1950.

Kind of Fish Pool No.

Pool No. 22 Pool No. 24 Pool No. 25

Carp 203,954
Buffalofishes 298,016
Drum 48,324
Catfishes 66,284
Bullheads 3,764
Shovelnose sturgeon 16
Paddlefish 16,092
Suckers 1,100
Carpsucke s 902
Mooneye— ass

Bowfin ae

Eel 271

638,723

Total Catch From
Total Catch From Uncanalized River
Canalized Section Between Alton and
Kind of Fish of River Cairo, Illinois

Grand
Total

Carp 845,663 936,295
Buffalofishes 962,791 1,021,524
Drum 356,959 365,502
Catfishes 389,405 396,908
Bullheads Sheil 7) 5,847
Shovelnose sturgeon 2,809 2,809
Paddlefish 38,664 41,843
Suckers 4,020 4,020
Carpsuckers S59 12,309
mieeaeee!/ 5 "225
Bowfin 150 150
Eel 634 634

2,788,073

iy Mooneye also includes goldeye.

oF

Table 10.--Calculated value of the reported catch of fish taken from the
Mississippi River by Illinois commercial fishermen in 1950; data based on the re-
ported undressed weights and average wholesale (undressed) prices for each navi-
gation pool.

Kind of Fish Pool No. 12] Pool No. 13 | Pool No. 14 | Pool No. 15| Pool No. 16

Carp $ 3,254.65| $ 2,465.32] $1,459.51 $ 628.35 $1,108.03
Buffalofishes 4,407.45 9,390.04 4,901.08 ZS Sela 3,741.20
Drum 2,769.80 1,462.86 1,584.37 244.87 814.80
Catfishes 4,616.10 7,714.05 2 54s 617.95 1,121.46
Bullheads 25.00 -- 0.45 -- --
Shovelnose sturgeon -- -- 25.00 56.28 --
Paddlefish 10.00 == 134.55 -- 10.00
Suckers 12.80 -- -- 48.00 20.00
Carpsuckers 22.50 24.00 22.66 4.00 50.00
Bowfin Zee5 -- -- --
Mooneye!/ 7.00 -- -- --
Eel 9.96 We45 -- --
Total $5,137.51.) $i24.,05r,.52 ) $19,104.37 sein (/siAslo $ 6,865.49

Kind of Fish

Pool No. 17} PoolNo. 18 | Pool No. 19 | Pool No. 20] Pool No. 21

Carp V571.94 | -$ 3,007.85). 5. 8,050.22 || $ 13,049.20 $ 15599560
Buffalofishes b,OS 1.01 S) Sul 30) 10,606.94 1,340.00 1,110.00
Drum 3,674.00 55D eDo Tol cae 464.94 988.10
Catfishes 4,783.72 5,697.50 39,367.62 3306982 1,156.00
Bullheads 7.50 219.00 --
Shovelnose sturgeon 403.20 24.00 --
Paddlefish 1,033.56 CU2neP 248.40
Suckers --

-Carpsuckers 88.45

| Bowfin --

Ly)
| Mooneye— --

Eel

ibys Mooneye also includes goldeye.

223%

Table 10 (concluded).--Calculated value of the reported catch of fish taken
from the Mississippi River by Illinois commercial fishermen in 1950; data based on
the reported undressed weights and average wholesale (undressed) prices for each
navigation pool.

Kind of Fish

Pool No. 22 Pool No. 24 Pool No. 25

Pool No. 26

Carp $ 439.20 $1,804.50 $ 2,984.02 $12,645.15
Buffalofishes 1,105.00 2,496.00 6,445.34 37,848.03
Drum 406.90 1,200.00 2,612.90 6,572.06
Catfishes 701.00 1,905.00 4,321.50 15,643.02
Bullheads -- -- 88.00 824.32
Shovelnose sturgeon 3.00 12.00 100.00 2.32
Paddlefish 219.75 120.00 744.00 2,703.46
Suckers -- 55.00
Carpsuckers 30.00 51.41
Bowfin -- --

Reoscevel! -- --

Eel 61.88 18.97

$ 2,877.60 $7,550 $17,387.64

Total Value of
Catch From Un-
canalized River
Between Alton and
Cairo, Illinois

$ 76,363.74

Total Value of
Catch From Can-
alized Section
of River

Grand
Kind of Fish

Carp Gaz ion. 54. $ 5,619.18 $ 47,786.72
Buffalofishes 100,967.36 7,458.71 108,426.07
Drum 36,328.69 1,163.21 37,491.90
Catfishes 91,691.99 Lette 1 93,462.70
Bullheads 1,164.27 6.57 1,170.84
Shovelnose sturgeon 625.80 -- 625.80
Paddlefish 6,969.50 534.07 7,503.57
Suckers 135.80 -- 135.80
Carpsuckers 295.77 42.75 338.52
Bowfin iP, 2.25 2.00 4.25
Mooneye— 7.00 7.00
Eel 92.06 92.06

$ 280,448.03 $ 16,597.20

ay, Mooneye also includes goldeye.

$ 297,045.23

eA

Table 11.--Reported estimated value of fishing devices and equipment used

by Illinois commercial fishermen in navigation pools of the Mississippi River in

Pool No. 12 | Pool No. 13 | Pool No. 14 | Pool No. 15 | Pool No. 16

1950.

Fishing Devices
and Equipment

Fishing Devices

Seines
Trammel nets
Hoop nets
Baskets

Hooks

Total
Equipment

Small boats
Outboard motors

Inboard motor
launches

Trucks

Refrigeration
equipment

Buildings

Miscellaneous
equipment

Total

Grand total

800.00

145.00
2,755.00
1,375.00

32.00

$ 5,107.00 | $ 5,640.00] $ 3,595.00 | $1,008.00

$ 640.00
735.00

5,025.00
6,475.00

1,955.00
4,525.00

200.00

$19,555.00 | $10,098.00 | $ 7,265.00

$ 24,662.00

505.00
4,100.00
820.00
215.00

$ 1,280.00
1,733.00

400.00
3,160.00

3,250.00

275.00

$ 15,738.00

= fAs=

850.00
390.00
2,030.00
325.00

$ 695.00
2,245.00

500.00
2,375.00

10.00

1,440.00

$10,860.00

$1,520.00

$ 2,528.00

$ 850.00
235.00
4,100.00
370.00
5.00

$ 5,560.00

$ 830.00
1,115.00

1,650.00
1,600.00

500.00
1,600.00

125.00
$ 7,420.00

$ 12,980.00

u
4

q

’
‘

Table 11 (continued).--Reported estimated value of fishing devices and equip-

ment used by Illinois commercial fishermen in navigation pools of the Mississippi

Pool No. 17 | Pool No. 18 | Pool No. 19 | Pool No. 20 | Pool No. 21

River in 1950.

Fishing Devices
and Equipment

Fishing Devices

Seines $ 850.00] $ 1,150.00] $ 2,275.00 -- $ 450.00
Trammel nets 75.00 345.00 1,962.50 100.00 410.00
Hoop nets 2,200.00 1,205.00 12,633.00 2,375.00 1,365.00
Baskets 905.00 765.00 5,110.00 460.00 187.50
Hooks 65.00 77.00 399.00 47.00 10.00
Total $ 4,095.00] $ 3,542.00 | $22,379.50 | $2,982.00 $ 2,422.56
Equipment
Small boats 722.50 | $ 927.50 | $ 5,490.00 | $ 760.00 $ 1,255.00
Outboard motors 450.00 1,440.00 8,166.00 1,180.00 1,250.00
Inboard motor

launches 3,012.50 2,337.50 275.00 85.00
Trucks 650.00 450.00 9,300.00 4,840.00
Refrigeration

equipment 1,450.00 1,710.00 1,760.00 60.00
Buildings 2,500.00 2,700.00 11,375.00 --
Miscellaneous

equipment 645.00 380.00 305.00 3 780.00
Total $ 9,430.00 | $ 9,945.00 | $36,671.00 $ 2,125.00 $ 8,270.00
Grand total $13,525.00 | $13,487.00 | $59,050.50 $ 5,107.00 $ 10,692.50

7G

Table 11 (continued).--Reported estimated value of fishing devices and equip-

ment used by Illinois commercial fishermen in navigation pools of the Mississippi

River in 1950.

Fishing Devices
and Equipment Pool No. 22 Pool No. 24 Pool Nos 25 Pool No. 26

Fishing Devices

Seines S 9725.00 $ 300.00 $1,315.00
Trammell nets 110.00 275.00 380.00 890.00
Hoop nets 505.00 2,082.00 3,680.00 14,434.00
Baskets 180.00 720.00 436.00 1335.00
Hooks -- -- 28.00 175.00
Total $18,147.00
Equipment
Small boats $1,121.00 Sele sORO0 $ 4,885.00
Outboard motors 1,415.00 ee OO 6,462.00
Inboard motor

launches 150.00 1,000.00 1,215.00
Trucks 150.00 5,700.00 14,850.00
Refrigeration

equipment 348.00 400.00 6,565.00
Buildings 400.00 3,395.00
Miscellaneous

equipment 40.00 93.00 1,160.00 2,345.00

Total $ 1,965.00 $ 3,277.00 $11,695.00 $39,717.00
Grand Total $ 3,485.00 $ 6,654.00 $ 16,219.00 $ 57,864.00

297s

Table 11 (concluded).--Reported estimated value of fishing devices and equip-

ment used by Illinois commercial fishermen in navigation pools of the Mississippi

Total, Canal-
ized Section

$ . 9,565.00
b IZ2e50

River in 1950.

Fishing Devices
and Equipment

Fishing Devices

Seines
Trammel nets
Hoop nets
Baskets
Hooks

Total
Equipment

Small boats
Outboard motors

Inboard motor
launches

Trucks

Refrigeration
equipment

Buildings

Miscellaneous
equipment

Total

Grand total

54,164.00
13,173.50
1,074.00

$ 20,231.00
28,876.00

16,350.00
50,150.00

14,788.00
30,195.00

8,363.00

$ 168,953.00 $ 13,138.00
$ 252,852.00 $ 21,515.00

Uncanalized, Alton

to Cairo, Illinois Grand Total
951.00 $ 10,516.00

75.00 5,997.50
7,090.00 61,254.00
25.00 13,198.50

236.00 1,310.00

aoe

92,276.00

$ 1,060.00 $. 21,291.06
1,671.00 30,547.00
800.00 17,150.00
7,125.00 57,275.00
1,006.00 15,794.00
765.00 30,960.00
711.00 9,074.00

$ 182,091.00

$ 274,367.00

Table 12.--Reported catch in pounds of fish taken in hoop Hetie! / Reatn Illinois

rivers by Illinois commercial fishermen in 1950.

Wabash, Little
Wabash, and
Skillet Fork

Illinois
River

Mississippi
River

Kaskaskia
River

Sangamon

Kind of Fish River

Carp 1,447,561 593,648 20,680
Buffalofishes 655,709 779,230 5,815
Drum 69,843 191,313 85
Catfishes 51,722 129,234 172
Bullheads 59,783 2,619 150

Shovelnose sturge gel 216

Paddlefish LALO --
Suckers 3,865 --
Carpsuckers ==
Bowfin 22

Eel

ay Hoop nets include wing nets, fyke nets, fiddler nets, and buffalo nets.

2/ Since hoop nets are inefficient in taking shovelnose sturgeon, the writers
believe that the bulk of this catch was reported incorrectly. Hooks and trammel nets
are considered the best tackle for shovelnose sturgeon in Illinois waters.

Gs

Table 12 (continued).--Reported catch in pounds of fish taken in hoop aera

from Illinois rivers by Illinois commercial fishermen in 1950.

Cache River,
Lake Creek,
Saline River,
and Backwaters

Kind of Fish Rock River Big Muddy River | of Ohio River
Carp 17,826
Buffalofishes 29,639
Drum 1,500
Catfishes 937
Bullheads os
2
Shovelnose sturgeon— --

Paddlefish
Suckers
Carpsuckers
Bowfin

Eel

Wy Hoop nets include wing nets, fyke nets, fiddler nets, and buffalo nets.
2/ Since hoop nets are inefficient in taking shovelnose sturgeon, the writers

believe that the bulk of this catch was reported incorrectly. Hooks and trammel nets
are considered the best tackle for shovelnose sturgeon in Illinois waters.

-30-

dA

Table 12 (concluded).--Reported catch in pounds of fish taken in hoop eee

from Illinois rivers by Illinois commercial fishermen in 1950.

Horseshoe Lake,
Embarrass River Granite City

Kind of Fish

Carp 2,066 450 2,242,921
Buffalofishes 1,580,784
Drum 255835
Catfishes 204,758
Bullheads (5,550
Shovelnose Sturpeon’/ 5,424
Paddlefish 18,594
Suckers levis’
Carpsuckers ZOOS
Bowfin WORONET
Eel 410
Total 4,449,554

1/ Hoop nets include wing nets, fyke nets, fiddler nets, and buffalo nets.
2/ Since hoop nets are inefficient in taking shovelnose sturgeon, the writ-

ers believe that the bulk of this catch was reported incorrectly. Hooks and tram-
mel nets are considered the best tackle for shovelnose sturgeon in Illinois waters.

=sile

Table 13.--Reported catch in pounds of fish taken in seines from Illinois

rivers by Illinois commercial fishermen in 1950.

Wabash, Little
Wabash, and
Skillet Fork

Illinois
River

Mississippi
River

Kind of Fish

Carp 2,420,563 163,411
Buffalofishes 656,470 123,876
Drum 32,672 141,608
Catfishes M259 23 17,452
Bullheads 11,294 30
Shovelnose sturgeon -- 200
Paddlefish 24,321 27,576
Suckers 116 155
Carpsuckers 91 630
Mooneyel / -- 225
Bowfin — 200 150

Cache River,
Lake Creek,
Saline River,

and Backwaters
of Ohio River

Fox River and
Chain O'Lakes

Horseshoe Lake,

Kind of Fish Granite City

Carp 2,675,990
Buffalofishes 797,804
Drum 174,280
Catfishes 30,489
Bullheads 11,324
Shovelnose sturgeon 200
Paddlefish BBL e)s)7/
Suckers 771
Carpsuckers 2,221
Mooneye— 225

Bowfin 860

3,746,161

1 Mooneye also includes goldeye.

“338

co

Table 14.--Reported catch in pounds of fish taken in trammel nets from II-

linois rivers by Illinois commercial fishermen in 1950.

Illinois River Mississippi River

Kind of Fish

Carp 162,249 231,149
Buffalofishes Ion Sez 141,832
Drum fa Th 8) 338) 3)5)5 2518)
Catfishes 8,351 9,301
Shovelnose sturgeon 22025 MIs
Paddlefish 1,650 1,650
Carpsucker 1,624 2,224

421,510

101,140 320,370

Table 15.--Reported catch in pounds of fish taken in basket traps from Illinois

rivers by Illinois commercial fishermen in 1950.

Illinois|Mississippi]Sangamon|Kaskaskia|Embarrass
River |River River River River

Kind of Fish

Carp

Buffalofishes

Drum

Catfishes

Bullheads
Shovelnose sturgeon
Eel

32,390)| 210,311

=a

Table 16.--Reported catchin pounds of fishtaken on hooks from Illinois rivers

by Illinois commercial fishermen in 1950.

Wabash, Little
Wabash, and
Skillet Fork

Illinois Mississippi
Kind of Fish River River

Sangamon
River

Carp
Buffalofishes

Drum

Catfishes

Bullheads
Shovelnose sturgeon
Carpsucker

Eel

26,854 59,538

Cache River,
Lake Creek, i
Saline River, :
Kaskaskia and Backwaters
River of Ohio River

Kind of Fish

Carp 23,987
Buffalofishes 3,748 }
Drum 5,572 i
Catfishes 53,168
Bullheads 2,653
Shovelnose sturgeon 1,701 :
Carpsucker 266 ;

Eel

inlet Ine be

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