639 IL6 1898-1900 cop.4 (tte, Cal, (2. Oe, (26765—5m—10-19) ILLINOIS STATE NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY LIBRARY _ 7) = A . - La = Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign http://www.archive.org/details/report18981900illi Reteret fre Ising Again, Sphoat! The aeblng dum throws urokelt Colorikd Aart, inane The forest parte toa to the watirs riche - Splash! But lhe oft sound patls hot, Sel cg AR HA picker rode Just Then! J TEnkery W aTerloo ‘UNANY aT snywoynoyad WOsa “WANANO!d AHL SSS aoeeewae paysorigg “ANId GAAR°11VM SHL 10 U01 “uinaly (any, nynyyody uopol)o7 ) “HSI4 TZAOHS Ree a = eS REPORT OF State Fish Commissioners From October 1, 1898, to September 80, 1900. INDEX. PAGE ‘Enforcement of the laws............. sioner Steller aerc ins biases Soeanaisle wits wtolesentinre Reta staarave ders EMEC MONRO LSHON oo cette c sone vaccine Sees OR e ee eee es enc ok Sole ate lole slelelaig. ow ia sie Savateabea® soeeee Se 6 MMEREDTURDER GOTO tere ete es ore rc core fara ora PeTa aoe ielatane alc coins SleTa ala wis Sa oiaTa i neta cteta No aleve Si cratelnin e erbaeemime oles 8 BRN EPUONCSAGIUT OANA Locscsacectencascae secnine ccna ceva daceacle oscil cneineccuer besser 9 PURPIEUIS SSE LAT ULO TI Seat clare cle Saree c Sool ais seeVereiaieloia ei oasinna sine isles a eiateralavae vl win einlwiove wreteiaiavejarsineerata ieee wis ees 9 MUP E CIS ee cme che cerca cay ence Roki one ccetie sonic se aed ru elon eecbe’ Vee aistersers wee Sos naie ceo sere 9 RTT RO MNOS HEE AN Se rence terete coe erels cine ts oiclai Seo vein oie avon oclontn sicisic daobinw slaie wine die scl coautace ows 11 Effect of eeareee CANA WON RMMINOIS LIVER wremeccs cae cscs sNews cio sla wivetme laces cela mecene sees 12 HALO OMHISIN COMMISSION CLS: aie. so1ceis cieiels lasia sinlea veieias alsjeie diel siecieisia ejeetcleteisicenmsises es ce ccm 13 MISH es OMe Nake FON bt lin) CIC HMOs cnsriecce on cies seer noes ciocidm oelne cee eimaideae sae tate ewesweene 14 ee DL Hi RENN eg odeeades soomadodedvocobs dda ie scone secdache cEnbbeeeaaa scone Socmer seedopere 15 Fish SEHR ere eet ee Tara le eee aN cisiotere a ciareiare Micro inlaotvere bole © 's,neisia og Paleo sie elec ww SASS Tes tenceneue 16 (DEEN: 2 ac PES OS ADE ORIN ES Ce ETc IS aes i tone ara SNES ae OnE a 16 The rashine ERY TES UL Ye te ches 3 ok Ca we cca weeitnte se faricaerele mite afeeies oan raters winiete slo's Ssiaus Siajem ules ete 19 PSEPIER MI EFOTCO AS CULES OS eerie arene area cancer aie saree recle e ee ne aes ieee Tae eeiec does ntees 22 SHEDIPATE TRIGGER Te A caer eR a Rn eee 2 Pe ee ee nee ee Tee 23 APPENDIX. 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' Wai INI Paes Ad el CARTHAGE LAKE CLUB HOUSE. COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT. To His Excellency, JOHN R. TANNER, Governor: We beg leave to submit herewith our report as Board of State Fish Commissioners for the two years ending September 30, 1900. The two seasons passed since our last report have been, in some respects, the most eventful and profitable in the history of the com- mission. The commercial phase of the fishing industry has been won- derfully developed, and has taken its place among the larger of the legitimate business interests of the State. Large areas of water, hith- erto of comparatively no value, have been leased or purchased for the purposes of fishing, and become part of the valid possessions of the fish dealer. Fish are not now, as formerly, marketed as soon as caught, but are placed in enclosures or pens and held to await a fair market price. The economy of this method has been demonstrated, as it provides against the inevitable loss following forced sales in an _ overstocked market. The attention of the fishermen themselves is being drawn to the necessity of a longer close season, or at least, to the fact that seining during the hot months of July and August is unprofitable. In fact, the experience of practical men engaged in the business has demon- strated the necessity of prescribing some limit to the drain on the waters if the supply of the future is to be preserved, and they will join with the commission in a request for such legislation as will better protect the fish during the summer months as well as during the spawning season. The whole history of the enactment of laws for the protection and preservation of fish has been one of education, the outgrowth of knowledge gained by experience and experiments. For many years it has been the practice to take fish whenever or wher- ever they could be caught, regardless of time or condition, the the- ory seeming to be that today was productive of certain results, to- morrow might be doubtful. In this way tons of fish were taken be- cause they could be easily obtained, and usually a large proportion went to waste for lack of a market, it being impossible to hold them long owing to their perishable nature. Practical business men, with foresight to realize the possibilities of this industry, have gone into it with the purpose of making the greatest possible amount of money out of it, and they have seen “the importance of guarding the soutte of supply to an extent beyond that heretofore asked in legislation even by your board. 2 It is to us a matter of surprise that a business of such magnitude of so much importance to the general public, and so far-reaching in its results, dividing its proceeds as it does, between the fisherman, the dealer, and the transportation companies, should be so little known and understood. This is particularly true of the Illinois river, which, from its peculiar nature, forms one of the greatest fish producing streams in the country. Its bottom lands abound in lakes or depres- sions which the overflow of the river forms into lakes, and all these are: filled by these frequently recurring overflows, several times a year, and these lakes, large or small, deep or shallow, afford an im- mense area of spawning ground which should provide a supply practically inexhaustible if properly protected. The shallow wa- ters usually dry up during the hot weather, and the young fish so left should furnish our supply for purposes of distribution. The many deeper lakes having a continuous connection with the river form additional spawning ground and safe harborage for the fish. In this connection it may be well to say a word on a subject which has caused much discussion; that is, the relation of the commercial and the sporting interests of the fish question. The commission is often charged with favoring the market fishermen as against the angler. We believe that, if the facts were understood, it would be seen that while we are doing everything we can to promote the in- crease of the coarser food fishes, we are, at the same time, increasing the supply of the gamier varieties proportionately. Let it be remem- bered that, of the whole product of Illinois waters, 85 per cent of the output is formed of the coarser varieties, the fish which are used for shipping throughout theState and to the East for commercial pur- poses. This estimate includes, in numbers according to the order in which we name them, carp, buffalo, white perch, catfish and bull- pouts. The remaining 15 per cent is made up of sunfish, crappie, black bass, white bass, war-mouth bass and the pickerel family, with some yellow perch, wall-eyed pike, etc. These fish are all more or less carniverous and subsist chiefly on live food. Minnows and the young of the carp, buffalo and sunfish form probably the greater part of their food, and were it not that nature has so nicely balanced the production of the young of the coarser varieties to provide this sup- ply, it would only be a question of time when the streams would be depleted of all but the carniverous varieties, when they would de- stroy their own young until the survival of the larger fishes only would result. This has been demonstrated by experience and observa- tion; one instance bearing on the fact may be quoted here. In Min- nesota, about fifteen miles above Alexandria, is a lake known as Ver- mont Lake, from which nothing but bass and pickerel were taken, and all were large fish, no small ones appearing. All were thin and gaunt, and when dressed and cooked showed by the formation of the bones, particularly the ribs, signs of extreme age. These had, un- doubtedly, in the course of time destroyed all other fish, including their own young. The carp were especially prolific, the adult female dropping from 200,000 to 600,000 eggs at spawning time, and these being adhesive, attach themselves to sticks and stones and mature and hatch very 3 quickly. While they form an easy prey to the carnivorous fishes, still, being produced in such numbers, a large percentage of them es- cape and reach maturity. Being rapid of growth, within two years the young are large enough to meet the size requirement for com- mercial purposes. The buffalo can be classed with the carp as to their reproductive qualities. The suntishes, too, are found everywhere in great num- bers. The catfishes are not so plentiful as they once were, owing to the great drain upon the supply of young in former seasons by the use of what is known as fiddler baskets; however, these fishes are now increasing in numbers and we may again hope to see them as plentiful as before. Before the passage of the size limit in our fish laws it was not un- usual to see large boatloads of fish that would not average more than one and one-half to two ounces each when dressed, one of the most outrageously wasteful practices ever perpetrated by fishermen. The increase of the coarse varieties has demonstrated beyond ques- tion that with this increase in their food supply the gamier varieties have been added to proportionately. Another feature of the question favorable to the increase of black bass is the fact that, owing to their being less tenacious of life than the coarse fishes, they do not ship so well, and consequently the market demand for them is limited and the catch of bass is very small compared to the whole amount taken. ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW. The past two seasons, as in the two succeeding ones, the knotty proposition of the commission to solve has been how best to enforce the law. A rigid and exact enforcement of all the provisions of the law, as they stand upon the statutes, would be to work hardship to a great commercial industry. The waters, particularly in the Illinois river, Fox lake, Calumet lake and river and many of the smaller streams, have become thickly populated with the carp, which, from the very rapid growth and development, ‘added to their immense powers of propagation, has filled the waters to repletion. They do not bite at the hook and line as voraciously as do the gamier varie- ties, and should be taken out of the water when large enough for market. With this end in view, the commission has allowed no par- ticular restrictions to the placing of hoop and fyke nets in Illinois waters, when, in the judgment of the commission, there has been a necessity for taking the coarse fish. Then, too, in lakes which are admirably adapted to the gamier varieties of fish, where carp have increased to an extent that makes it a necessity to remove them, we have given permits to have them removed by use of seine and nets under the supervision of the warden designated by us, and paid for by the parties removing the fish, this, however, only under the con- dition that all interested must join in the request for such removals. In spite of all precautions and constant surveillance, men will slip to the river some place and use small mesh seines, giving as a reason for so doing, that they are undertaking to catch the bull pouts, which exist in innumerable quantities along the Illinois river. If the tak- a ing of the bull pout alone should be consummated, there would be no serious objection to such procedure, but men who will use unlawful appliances to catch fish, will not hesitate, of course, to keep every- thing that comes to their seines. There is, no doubt, a great deal that could be argued in favor of the smaller mesh, say, one inch and one-half to replace the present two inch mesh now in use. The bull pouts thrive everywhere, and as adults rarely ever reach the size per- mitted by law to be offered for sale, and there is no doubt that a two inch mesh is too large to successfully take them. We are inclined to believe from such experience as we have had, after carefully noting the workings of the two-inch mesh all along the Illinois river, that an inch and one-half mesh should be allowed to be used during the season when it is lawful to use anything, and a vigorous prosecution made, or rather a vigorous enforcement of the law relative to size of fish which shall be offered for sale. The waters would be better for a greater reduction in the quantity of these fish, they are marketable and found everywhere in the State of Illinois. We believe there would be less illegal fishing with seines if the meshes were reduced to the size sufficient to take the bull pouts. The size limit of fish that can be legally offered for sale, has had a thorough test and has proven to be one of the most successful and practicable laws so far enacted. We have had a very large number of violators of this law all over the State, particularly in Chicago. The general impression gaining ground among the commission men there, that any fish shipped from outside of the State to the Chicago market, whether of under size or not, could be legally handled. As a result, that point has been hotly contested by the Chicago fish deal- ers, and the abuse has extended of course to fish shipped in from all portions of our State, and it could not be accurately determined whether they were fish from Illinois, or from states where it has been found consistent with the law to have permitted the sale of fish from other states. The ruling of the commission has been backed by good legal advice that the State of Illinois through its Legislature had the right to say what should be legally offered for sale within her own borders. Whenever under size fish have been found in the posses- sion of the dealer, when not offered for sale, they were confiscated and turned over to the Chicago charitable institutions. This met with some opposition at first, but we are pleased to say that the bet- ter classes of dealers in Chicago have become convinced of the cor- rectness of the opposition, and as a rule now refuse to receive con- signments of fish smaller than allowed by law, and if such consign- ments are received and found to be mixed with larger fish and not detected until after receipt, were voluntarily turned over to our war- dens for disposition named. While all parts of the State were well supplied with shipments of fish from various markets, they are, many of them, too small to be legally offered for sale, and it has re- quired a great deal of time and patience to enforce the law in these instances, and yet not work hardships. Our wardens have been in- structed, when such fish are found in the possession of dealers, to notify them that they are too small, obtain the name of the shipper and notify him also of the infraction of the law. This for the first 5 offense. If the offense is repeated, then in every instance to prose- cute. Fish, smaller than those authorized by law that can be offered for sale, are not wanted in the markets, they are not in any sense de- sirable and are known among fishermen as trash. The dealers, them- selves, admit that there is no profit in handling them. ‘The last ses- sion of the Legislature enacted laws compelling shippers to label their barrels or boxes, such label expressing kind of fish, from whom and to whom. This has given us an opportunity of tracing always the shipper of small fish. The clause mentioned makes both the ship- per and transportation company liable. We wish to say here in this connection that we have been greatly indebted to the transportation companies for the very prompt way in which they have notified their agents that packages of fish must not be delivered unless they are properly labeled. The companies have uniformly given us all the aid possible in enforcing this section of our law. The use of the tram- mel net is still kept up in some localities. From the nature of its use it can be readily handled in all the better classes of lakes along the Illinois and Mississippi rivers; quickly set and murderous in its use, a net of this description can easily be taken in the boat, it being very light, and carried into the lake and used readily in the night, then can be quickly removed and detection is impossible. Several cases, in which we have prosecuted for the use of the trammel net, have resulted in our defeat, the courts holding that the trammel net was a seine and used as such. This, while erroneous, has had its effect in making such prosecution very difficult. The use of the ‘trammel net should be abolished entirely. In the enforcement of the fish laws, as we find them, we have been badly handicapped. In some counties conviction is almost impossible, even when cases have been clearly made against the violator, all preponderance of evidence usually being with the fisherman and seemingly easily supplied. The great difficulty we have is in getting witnesses to testify to a state of facts they are perfectly familiar with, because of their fear of some retaliation and frequently the negative support of the State’s attor- neys, who, for reasons of their own, do not care to prosecute. This has been evidenced in a number of cases, where cases brought and prosecuted by the State’s attorney have resulted in a verdict for the defendant. And similar cases in same localities, tried by an at- torney engaged for the purpose, have resulted favorable to the prose- cution. During the months when it is unlawful to use seines or nets of any description, we have maintained complete control of the Illi- nois river. This we have been able to do well the past two seasons by the use of our steamer Reindeer, she being very swift, enabling us to overcome long distances in the night, or a short space of time. We have had to inject into our enforcement of the law such practical methods as seemed to be to the best interest of the community as a whole, protect the fish and at the same time not work any hardship to the industry itself. The very large increase in the output of fish upon the Illinois river, particularly in the last ten years, has demon- strated what may be accomplished if we take the means within our power to rigidly enforce the law when it was necessary todoso. The commissioners should be empowered with the right to confiscate, at 6 all times and under all circumstances, any appliances used for fish- ing which are of a nature contrary to law, such as seines with too small mesh, as fyke or hook nets, that contain parts of improper mesh, or as trammel nets, fiddler baskets, wing nets or battery of nets with unreasonable leads, all so placed as to obstruct the free passage of fish contrary to the provisions of the law. This law is working with admirable effect in all of the adjoining states, and has been the means of a better enforcement of the law by a Jarger per cent than we have been able toshow. Under the proper heads of this report we submit a synopsis of such a law as we think would meet the requirements. The time has come in the State of Illinois when the rigid enforcement of some law is a necessity, and we are free to admit that some of the provisions of our present law should be so amended as to make the enforcement of the law possible and complete without doing injustice to those legitimately engaged in the business of catching and selling fish. We note with a great deal of pleasure a large increased number of dealers and fishermen who are inclined, not only to obey the law, but to assist us in its enforce- ment. The Illinois Fishermen’s Association has numbered amongst its membership a large number of men who inject into their business practical methods, and believe in the necessity of providing for the future, if a successful continuance and profitable outcome of their business is to be had. We are in receipt cf a number of letters from the prominent fishermen and dealers along the river, asking that the close season be so lengthened as will include the hot months, taking the position that there are very many more fish ruined and wasted when caught during the months of July and August than are suc- cessfully saved and marketed. We have under advisement the propo- sition, and will make an exhaustive investigation of the concensus of opinion along the river, and submit to the next session of the Legis- lature our views as to the advisability of the measure. We would also advocate an absolutely close season in the taking of bass and kindred fishes during certain seasons of the year covering the spawn- ing season, within a limited distance of any dam. This for the rea- son that more harm is done by the indiscriminate taking of spawning bass at or near the base of the dam during the spawning season while the fish are congregated there, making an effort to get up over the dam to spawning ground. It has not been an unusual sight to see large numbers of such fish taken in a single day under such condi- tions. C)LLECTION OF FISHES. The collection of fishes for distribution depends always on the condition of the season, whether the water is high or low, the weather hot or cold, and the distribution must, naturally, be propor- tionate to the collection. The season of 1899 was above the average, that of 1900 was cur- tailed on account of high water in the Illinois river, and just the contrary condition in the Mississippi river, which was very low. The water rose early in the season on the Illinois river from the usual 7 natural causes, the carrying off of the snows and rains, and was kept up to abnormal height by the influx of water from Lake Michigan through the drainage canal. The result to us was a great scarcity of small fish at the time when they were usually found in the low flat ponds and lakes along the Illinois river. The water was high enough early in season to allow the adult fish to go out into the shal- low lakes and spawn, but the usual conditions were completely changed, and instead of having the product of the numerous tem- porary ponds and lakes which the falling water leaves easy of access for collection, the river kept up and out of its banks and gave the fry plenty of time to grow large enough to go out into the deeper water, the river and deep lakes, before the water receded, and then, when it did go down, the ponds were left filled mainly with adult fish, so that the work was delayed until late in the season and the greater part of the output had to be of adult fish. This, however, has its advantages, as it will be the means of add- ing to the river a large number of fish that would otherwise perish in ponds and lakes so remote from the river as to make collection from them impossible, on account of the expense and loss attending the carrying of fish such distances. Our work of collecting has been carried on on the same general lines as heretofore, except that with the steamer Reindeer we have the advantage of being able to transport larger quantities and for greater distances than before. Our earlier collection indicate a large increase in the pickerel family, large numbers of the young having ‘been taken early in the season. For several years they have not been seen in the river in any large numbers. We are glad to say that the young of the dog fish have not been so plentiful, partly on account of a demand for dog fish in some of the markets, and partly owing to their destruction by the market fishermen. . ; A large drove of hogs was fed during the whole of the season of 1899 on the dog fish which were taken and thrown out on the bank by one gang of fishermen on Clear lake, a lake owned and fished by Mr. John Schulte of Havana, IIl. The channel catfish show an increase also, but not large. Since the size limit clause of the law was enacted fewer small ones nave been taken, more, however, have been brought to market than there is any excuse for. As before stated we noted a slight increase in this variety in our collections, but not what there should have been. Now and then we have found a specimen of lake herring in our catch, with an increase of ring perch, which would indicate that an occasional lake fish strays into the river, but the natural conditions necessary to sustain these fishes, particularly the herring, are lacking in our river and lake waters, so that we need not look for any perma- nent addition of this kind in sufficient quantities to excite comment. ; 8 DISTRIBUTION. The distributron of fish after the collections are made is no easy task. They require great care in the handling so as to have them in proper condition for shipping. Any fish showing signs of bruises or injuries of any kind must be taken out and returned to the river, the remainder must be kept in water sufficiently cool to permit them to harden so that they may be ready for the next change; then the water into which they are placed when brought in by the collectors must be gradually reduced in temperature, as they are frequently taken from water whose temperature would register from 90 to 100 degrees, and the change to that of from 60 to 65 degrees, a tempera- ture necessary for shipping them, would be apt to prove fatal if the change was not gradual. After these preliminary steps they are placed in charge ofa messenger and are transported in the baggage cars on passenger trains, one messenger taking all he can care for safely, or that will be given room in the car, so that they may not interfere with the regular duties of the baggageman. It is expensive work to transport fish. They can not be carried safely without a messenger accompanying them, because frequently, in fact, nearly always, changes must be made from one line to another, occasioning delays of one or more hours, which would be fatal unless the tish had the necessary attention. The water must be disturbed so that it may become oxygenated, they must be carefully watched, and water aerated by use of a dipper if they show signs of distress. Then when the water into which they are to be placed is reached the temperature of water in can must be, regulated again to bring it near that of the river or lake for the same reasons. Ice is nearly always used in ship- ping the fish, as they carry better in water of low temperature. As arule the fish are carried free of charge, except a fee to bag- gagemen, but generally the messenger accompanying them pays his fare, although there are some generous exceptions to this rule. On the whole, when the per diem of messenger, his expenses enroute, telegraph service, ice and hauling are considered, a trip rounds up with a considerable expense bill. The board has had the matter of general distribution under con- sideration for several seasons with a view to determining the advis- ability of supplying private ponds unless all the conditions relating to the probable results are made known to the commissioners, such as the nature of the pond and the water, as to size and quality, and their suitability to the requirements of the fish asked for. In fact, it has been a question in our minds whether or not only public waters should be supplied, except in cases where the applicant defrays the cost of the plant. The limited amount which we have to cover the cost of collecting and distributing must be used economically to get the public waters supplied, and while we have made a practice of supplying private applicants so far as we could, we can not supply all, that would be a physical impossibility. It is evident that many who apply do not know what they want when they ask for fish. Our greatest demand is for black bass, and there can be no greater mistake made than to undertake the cultivation of black bass in a 9 limited space for profit, and they should not, in any case, ever be placed in a pond by themselves. They are predaceous in their habits, and if other live food is not to be-had they will devour their own young and the smaller of their species. We have tried hard to im- press upon those who have ponds the necessity of supplying, as nearly as possible, all the conditions necessary to the life habits of the fish if success is to be expected, that is, to have all of the coarser varieties present with the finer fishes, so that the amount of food necessary for the latter may be provided by the former varieties, but as arule people who make fish ponds will insist upon some one variety to the exclusion of everything else, and, also as a rule, want the “pirates” of the lot. REARING PONDS AT URBANA. The output of the rearing ponds at Urbana has been very satis- factory. We give in the appendix a list of fish taken from these ponds and planted in that section of the State. It has saved a great deal of transportation and demonstrated the expediency of such ponds. The cost of maintenance has been very slight. We have in mind a project to improve these ponds, if retained, and if satisfactory ar- rangements can be made, to permanently locate them at this point. Crystal lake is in close proximity to the ponds, from which breeders may be taken, and the surplus of the pond used for distribution. TRANSPORTATION. Without the assistance of the railroads of the State our work would fall very short of a successful showing. They haveas a rule favored us in every way they could consistently, carrying our fish in the bag- gage cars on passenger trains when such service was often a detri- ment to them; have stopped their trains at streams to give us time to make our plants, and frequently hauled a car over their lines to and from points we desired to make. We have had only courteous treat- ment from the employés, and except in rare instances have never been refused a reasonable request. We desire to express through you our thanks to the following railroad companies, from whom we have from time to time received valuable assistance: Chicago, Bur- lington & Quincy R. R. Co., Wabash R. R. Co., Illinois Central R. R. Co., Chicago & Eastern Illinois Ry. Co., Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Ry. Co., Mobile & Ohio R. R. Co., Chicago & Northwestern Ry. Co., Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis R. R. Co., Iowa Central R. R. Co., Toledo, Peoria & Western Ry. Co., Peoria, Decatur & Evansville Ry. Co., Wisconsin Central Ry.Co., Wabash, Chester & Western Ry. Co., Jacksonville & St. Louis R. R. Co,, Indiana, Illinois & Iowa R. R. Co., Lake Erie & Western Ry. Co., Fulton County Narrow Gauge a Lo Elgin & Eastern R. R. Co., Quincey, Carroliton & St. Louis O. FISH WARDENS. We give in appendix a list of the fish wardens of the State. Very many of them sought appointment because they thought there was 10 direct compensation for the work, and a disappointment resulted as soon as the nature of the work and the fact that they would have to depend upon such fees as were obtained from convictions as remun- eration for that work became known. These fees constitute their sole compensation, except in cases where they are given special work to do by the commissioners. The whole system is wrong and should be changed. We have a large number of wardens in the State, and a glance over our reports from wardens will show that but little inter- est has been taken in the enforcement of the law. Few men care to risk the enmity of their neighbors by giving information, and fewer care to appear in the role of a prosecutor. In some of the river dis- tricts fear of retaliation on the part of the fishermen deters prosecu- tion. Then again, where men are found who will vigorously prosecute offenders, they too often meet with great difficulty in obtaining con- victions, and consequently have their labor for their pains. Even when convictions are obtained, it too often happens that the half of fine which should go to the warden is retained by the State’s attor- ney as payment for fees, which seems all proper enough so far as the law governing the State’s attorney’s office is concerned. It is an un- pleasant and thankless task, at best, to undertake to enforce the fish laws under these circumstances. The sentiment in favor of the enforcement of the laws is growing, but not fast enough. The neglect of a proper enforcement is usually attributed to the commissioners by parties who do not take the con- ditions into consideration. This State is almost an empire in extent, so great in length and of such diversity of conditions that new com- plications in the enforcement of the law arise continually. To give proper personal attention to each individual case would be impossi- ble; first, because it would be a physical impossibility to attend per- sonally to all, and next because the board, serving without compensa- tion, could not afford to devote all their time to this work, so we are compelled to depend upon wardens or persons interested to give these matters attention, and for the reasons given this has not always been successful or satisfactory in the results obtained. The interest is great enough to warrant a remedy, and we think it can be done by dividing the State into five or ten districts, appointing a good man for the work and paying him for it, not depending upon fines ob- tained, but making the fines payable to the Secretary of State, to be applied to a fund to pay wardens, and make the payment of such fines obligatory on the part of the courts to the Secretary of State, that is, such part of it as should go to the complainant. By this method the commissioners would be relieved of a cumbersome piece of machin- ery, and work would be done that would result in a saving of many thousands of pounds of good food, and it would also do away with the alleged “blood money prosecutions” occasionally complained of. We give herewith extract from the law creating wardens and their duties, compensation, ete. Src. 4.—Appointment and Duty of Wardens.] The Governor, on request of the fish commissioners, shall appoint fish wardens, who shall enforce all laws relating to fishes, arrest all violators thereof, prosecute all offenses against same. ‘They shall have power to serve processes against such offenders and 11 shall be allowed the same fee as constables for like service, and shall have power to arrest, without warrant, any person for violating any of the pro- visions of this act; but such wardens shall receive no fees, except on cases where convictions are obtained. Such fish wardens may be removed at any time by the Governor. POLLUTiON OF STREAMS, Sometime in the future the people of the State of Lllinois will awaken to the fact that a prominent cause of disease exists in the pollution of the water supply of the State. In some special instances this seems to be unavoidable, but a very large percentage of the causes could be eliminated. We are frequently in receipt of com- plaints of fish being killed by the introduction of refuse from differ- ent manufacturing or other establishments, which is being turned into the rivers and streams, and while we have, in every instance, given the matter personal investigation, we have found also that, no matter how flagrant the case appeared, our powers in the premises are limited to the investigation, we, as fish commissioners, having no authority further than that of any other citizen, and we could only point out the sole means of relief, a suit for damage by nuisance. But it has ever been a matter of surprise to us that water used for drinking purposes should be allowed to become so foul that it would kill fish and still be used for all purposes in the family. We have found some streams that at one time during our connection with the fish commission were ideal ones, with water almost crystal clear, and hard and sandy bottom, now always foul and with a deposit on bot- tom in places that is two or three feet deep, of such a character that no one seeing or smelling it could doubt for a moment its probabil- ities for disease, lying dormant and only kept in abeyance by the rapid current of the stream and the washings of the usual spring rises. This is a growing evil, and to us it presents the feature of destroying more fish, both mature and in embryo, than all the methods used by fishermen and anglers, and our only wonder is that these streams, the natural homes for the best of our fishes, have not become entirely depleted. If no means of preventing the escape of such refuse into the waters could be found and the life of the various enterprises depended upon the use of our rivers as sewers, as we are often informed by the par- ties interested in the case, it would be another thing, but as a remedy can be had, and a sure one, it would seem to be incumbent on the people interested to demand such protection as the law can give, not alone for the future of the fish, but what is of vastly more import- ance, the health of the people themselves. We have on file a large number of complaints and the findings re- sulting from our investigations, but deem it hardly proper to give them a place here, as it does not legally enter into our work, but we can always produce them should such showing become desirable. 12 EFFECT OF DRAINAGE CANAL ON ILLINOIS RIVER. The speculation as to what would be the result of turning the water of Lake Michigan through the drainage canal into the Illinois river was wide spread, and wild statements were made as to what would be the effect. The efforts of parties to obtain an injunction against it, and the newspaper comments are matters with which the public are famil- iar. Anticipating such criticism, we, together with Prof. S. A. Forbes of the State University, made a trip over the river on the steamer Reindeer, taking samples of the water of the river at short intervals which were tested analytically, so that we might be prepared to note the results following the opening of the canal. Tests of the water after the introduction of the lake water have shown an improvement rather than deterioration as a result. Opin- ions as to the question whether as a whole the valley has been bene- fited as regards navigation, etc., differ, but with this question, we as fish commissioners have but little todo. On the fishing industry it has had a temporarily unfavorable result, but it will be only tempo- rary, as the ultimate outcome can only be good and increase the sup- ply. The water has maintained an unusual height during the sum- mer months, so much so that it has been difficult to use seines during the summer in the river itself. To use the fishermen’s parlance “the fish were out in the woods.” The output of carp and buffalo has ee reduced to some extent, but as the area of breeding ground has been naturally increased we can but believe that the future will show a very large increase in the production. The high water has enabled the gamier varieties to de- posit their spawn, rear their young and go out into deep water, thus avoiding the very large loss of fish which were formerly stranded and perished in the shallow ponds. We believe the increase in the game fishes will show up large the coming season. We have had ample opportunity of giving the matter close obser- vation, from the frequent trips made over the river, and feel sure that the introduction of the water from Lake Michigan has been of mater- ial benefit, and in no sense detrimental to the interest we represent. We are inclined to think that, from a sanitary standpoint, the river itself has been benefited, but doubt whether or not the localities di- rectly connected with the canal itself have been or will be gainers by the opening of the canal. Our reasons, however, are only the result of personal observation, and could not in any sense be taken as valid against scientific examination and testimony. That the river can be polluted by turning into it the refuse of sewers and manufacturing establishments there can be no doubt, but that it may escape reason- ably pure where no obstructions to a free flow exist, and a current more or less rapid is maintained after the river is reached we know by experience and thorough tests. On the whole, as before stated, the introduction of lake water through the canal into the Illinois river has not hurt the fish in- terests further than temporarily reducing the catch of fish. 13 Boarpb oF FisH COMMISSIONERS. APPOINTMENT—DUTIES, ETC. We are frequently called upon to take active part and give per- sonal attention to the enforcement of the laws in remote parts of the State, and if from lack of time or any other cause, we do not go we are usually informed that we are not doing our duty or earning our salaries, and a great many times during the year are reminded that officials drawing the salaries we do should give the work more attend tion. In order that our position may be properly understood we herewith give the law creating the fish commission and enumerating the duties of the commissioners in full, so that there need be no further mistake regarding the question. The commissioners have never received a cent of salary, as the law distinctly provides that the work be without remuneration. The position is an honorary one, and when the board was created it was understood that their duties were to be more of a supervisory nature than otherwise, but little importance being placed upon the work. As time passed and the necessity of protecting the fish and fish interests became apparent new legislation was had and the work assumed greater magnitude and more importance. As attention was called to it, the general public seemed to take it as a matter of course that it was a salaried commission, and that the commissioners should give their entire time to the work. This is, of course, impossible under existing cir- cumstances. While the appropriations allow compensation to . wardens and persons employed by the commission in the pursuance of their duties, and the commissioners when employed in the service of the State are allowed their actual expenses, such as traveling and hotel bills, and liberal allowance for such expenditures as may be needed to carry on the work, yet no compensation, of any kind, has ever been received by any member of the commission from the date of the enactment of the law up to the present day. We make this statement, as before said, so that those who may have felt that they had reason for complaint for censuring the commissioners for seem- ing neglect of duty may better understand the real facts. BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS. An act entitled “An act to establish a board of commissioners to increase the product of the fisheries, by artificial propagation and cultivation.” Approvad May 13, 1879. In force July1,1879. L. 1879, p. 171. Paragraph 1. Board of commissioners created.] Section 1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That it shall be the duty of the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint three persons residents of this State, who shall constitute a Board of Fish Com- missioners. The persons so appointed shall hold their office for the respective terms of one, two and three years, the Governor designat- ing the term each member shall serve as said commissioner from the 14 time of their first appointment, amd their successors to be appointed at the expiration of the several terms of office, and shall each hold their terms of office for three years. Paragraph 2. Duties.] Section 2. It shall be the duty of the persons so appointed to select suitable locations for State fish hatch- ing and breeding establishments, take all measures within their means for propagation and increase of the native food fishes, and also for the introduction of new varieties of-food fishes into the public waters of the State, upon the best terms possible; to employ a practi- cal and competent fish culturist as a superintendent who shall have general charge and care of such establishments, and perform all such duties as the commissioners shall direct. Said board shall not re- ceive any compensation for their services, but shall be reimbursed their actual expenditures for traveling and hotel expenses, not to ex- ceed in any event the sum of $300 per annum for the entire board. Provided, That if no appropriation be made no expenses shall be incurred. Paragraph 3. Expenses—how paid.] Section 3, The said com- missioners or any two of them shall have authority to draw upon the State Treasurer from any appropriation made in pursuance of the purposes of this bill, as the same may be required, to defray expenses incurred, and shall report to the Governor of the State, all and singu- lar, the items of such expenditures together with the business trans- acted under their commission, such report to be made on or before the commencement of each fiscal year. “ FISHING ALONG THE LAKE FRONT IN CHICAGO. For a great many years it has been a customary thing to see the piers and projections along the lake front literally filled with large dip nets, raised and lowered by winches, the net of small mesh, and tons of small fish have been so taken and distributed throughout the city. The work was ostensibly done to catch minnows for bait, but this was mainly used as a blind, and was carried on to such an extent as to become a nuisance. In the enforcement of the law enacted at the last session of the General Assembly we caused printed notices to be served on all that it must cease, and through our very efficient warden, Mr. G. R. Ratio of Chicago, this class of violations has been nearly broken up. REGULATING 'THE CATCHING, SHIPPING AND SALE OF FISH. SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: That it shall be unlawful for any person or per- sons or corporation to take, catch or kill, or attempt to take, catch or kill in any manner or by any means, whatsoever, in the waters of Lake Michigan, any white fish or lake trout, between the fourteenth day of October in each year and the succeeding thirtieth day of November. It shall be unlawful for any person to set or cause to be set or used in the water of Lake Michigan within one-quarter of a mile of the main shore thereof, any gill, pound or fish net. No dip-nets shall be used except for catching minnows for bait, said dip-nets not to exceed twenty inehes in diameter. 15 THE USE OF SEINE. At the last session of the General Assembly a great effort was made to enact a law to prevent the use of the seine in any of the waters of the State, of any sized mesh. While it is unlawful to use a seine or net in most of the streams of the State, yet the Illinois river has been made an exception. Section one of the law is as follows: SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: That no person or persons shall place or cause to be placed or erected, any seine, weir, net, fish, dam or other obstruction in or across any of the rivers, creeks, ponds, streams, lakes, sloughs, bayous, or other water or water courses within the jurisdiction of this State, in such a manner as will obstruct the free passage of fish up and down and through such water or water courses, and it shall be unlawful for any person to catch or take fish, except minnows for bait, with any device or means other than hook and line, within one-half mile of any dam constructed across any of the rivers or creeks or other water courses within the jurisdiction of this State. That it shall be unlawful for any person or persons, at any time, to catch or kill any fish in any of the rivers, creeks, ponds, lakes, sloughs, bayous or other water courses within the jurisdiction of this State, by the use of lime, spear, acid, medical or chemical compound or explosives. That it shall be unlawful for any person to catch or kill any fish in or upon any of the lakes or rivers within the jurisdiction of this State with any device or means when such waters are covered with ice. ‘ That it shall be unlawful for any person to catch or kill or attempt to catch or kill any fish with any trammel net, seine or other devices and as a seine in or upon any of the rivers, creeks, streams, ponds, lakes, sloughs, bayous or other water courses within the jurisdiction of this State. Nor shall the * meshes of any weir, seine, basket or trap of any net or seine used for catch- ing fish, except for catching minnows for bait, be less than two inches square. Provided, however, that seining shall be lawful and allowed between the first day of July in each year, and the fifteenth day of April the following year, with seines, the meshes of which shall not be less than two inches square, in such rivers or streams as are used for navigation within the jurisdiction of this State, and also in the navigable bays or lakes connected with such navi- gable streams within the jurisdiction of this State, and not extending beyond the overflowed bottoms of such rivers or streams: Provided, also, that it shall be lawful for the fish commissioners or persons authorized by them to take fish in any way, at any time and in any such places, as they deem best for the purpose of propagation, distribution or destroying of objectionable fish. From facts they have been able to gain the commissioners believed it to be a necessity, that is, if the commercial phase of the question was to be considered. A glance at the table of fish taken on the Illi- nois river will show a very small percentage of anything other than coarse fish, also that a very large number of these coarse fish have been taken, and that each season shows a decided increase in the output. As before stated, carp particularly have increased to such an extent that if not taken out they would soon, by their rapid in- crease in numbers, crowd out all gamier fishes, and while this is true of the Illinois river and its adjacent lakes, it is becoming so of a large number of inland lakes as well. There is only one method of getting out the carp in sufficient quantities to be effective, and that is by the use of a seine. To entirely abolish the use of seines would be a mistake in more ways than one, as it would destroy, to a certain 16 extent, a very valuable industry, and deprive a large number of men of employment. What is of much importance, it would take away from the river towns especially a large part of the business upon which they subsist, and in the end would defeat the very onject de- sired by those advocating the abolishment of the seine, vz: The in- crease of the game fishes for angling purposes. A great hue and cry is raised about the immense damage the seine does on the Illinois river. I think that we can safely assert that more harm is wrought by the injudicious use of hook and line in the river itself than by the seine. We have given this matter especial attention, and note that more fish of less than prescribed market size are brought in and offered for sale by the anglers than by the oo men who use seines of proper mesh. We have, at various times, seen hundreds of small bass and crap- pie taken by an angler in a day’s fishing near the dams, and many of them were thrown away as too small to use, or after being kept on a string all day they were either dead, or injured to such an extent as to make it useless to put them back in the water. There is no limit to the size of fish that can be taken with hook and line, but there should be. The fish commissioners conceive it to be their duty to undertake to protect the fish, for the angler, but not for him alone, and do not believe it to be incumbent on them to destroy a great industry to gratify personal pleasure. The time will come in this State, as it has already in older coun- tries, when the waters will have to produce their fuil share of food, as a matter of public economy, and there will always be, as now, a necessity for the use of some means of taking the fish when of suffi- cient size for use, and to do it we know of no other appliance better than the seine, but that, of course, to be used under proper restraint. We are informed that another effort will be made during the next session of the Legislature to enact a law to prevent the use of the seine. The matter should be very carefully considered, and the facts thoroughly canvassed before legislation is enacted, and it should be prompted, not by sentiment, but the consideration of the best inter- ests of all concerned. FISHWAYS. But few fishways have been put in during the past two seasons, Several have been ordered repaired, and but little complaint has been received on this account. In appendix we give illustration of the plans of fishing in use in this State. CARP. We can not omit mention of the carp. As amoney producer the Illinois waters have never had its equal, and while there are many objectionable features resulting from its introduction into parts of the State, etc., as a whole it has to the mass of the people been of sY-a21W9S -AUMHS14 + dO-NW1d- rawawae ae | ee "1334 UNO4 NI L004 3NO 3S1u- *03193943 NIHM WO OL 39N3NI49U - HLIM NOLLSOd SLI ONIMOHS + AWMHSI4 JO MBIA 3A1L939dSuad - "AVMHSI4 JO SNV1d i es aide Pe Be cgi L = Se es Se Ss —— = ——— bal Seger aman ve om eS = Sei ea eee i ee pala c ie : Se ee ee P—_ ~ a] SS a Y] So teenie a = = i FT awe Catt \\ —= | ln \ ees eerie sa , ems ema eam) er 1 FETS wi \ . \\ \ NRE Wes Snr WSS SSSA SSS LS RS SSS SS Ree. \ \ A eee ZZ TE —————— | | ue ee 0 THE PIKE. Esox Lucius: THE CHANNEL CAT FISH. Ameiurus Albidus, PLANS OF FISHWAY. 17 vital importance. In spring lakes where the percentage of game fishes run high, natural breeding grounds for the basses, it has prob- ably worked some harm. Noton account of destruction to the spawn and other fish as alleged, by its combative tendencies, but from the fact that as a vegetable feeder they destroy, to some extent, vegeta- tion and keep the water stirred up. This objection however, can not be made in the greater portion of Illinois waters. Great flat lakes, with muddy bottoms line both sides of the Illinois river for a greater part of its length. The Illinois river itself, from its character, is a natural home for them and a proper proportion of bass, and crappie are always found everywhere, and as constantly in- creasing as are the carp. There is and can be no reason to regret their introduction in such waters. We have no need to defend them or their usefulness, the figures and facts show for themselves. A glance at report of Illinois River Fishermen Association will show the results. Some criticism has been made as to the act of the commission in introducing them into our waters, but mainly from the anglers’ standpoint. In fact we have been told that the carp have so depleted the wild grass of some of the lakes that it has caused the wild ducks to change their breeding grounds. And intimations have been made that not even the corn fields adjacent to the river were safe from their invasion. Be that as it may, as stated before, while in some few localities the carp may not be just what people want, but the fact remains that the carp are giving to the people of the State more employment, more money, and more food than all other of our native fish combined, and the prejudice early existing is fast giving way, and almost every hotel table in the State, carp on bill of fare, can occasionally be found. It may bea matter of interest to note what they have accomplished. In 1885 the first plant was made in our public waters by the United States commission and we give here the itinerary of the trip and location of plants. Copied from Report of 1886: Last season the first experiment was made of stocking the rivers of Illinois with carp. The United States Fish Commission gave ‘the State a carload of carp, and sent their car No. 3 in charge of J. F. Ellis to this State to dis- tribute them under the direction of the State Fish Commission, which was accomplished, by placing them as follows: LE LOD GUT GST. Shy els Rs Aa Oe eT ae Sek ee | er a oe 3,000 BRUMTSEC TU CRORE ewe te eset Soe) SEES eee BE TY stor ote OM ee 2,000 “than AWURyori clas nya peta Saad Oe a ais anak sea ne 2,000 VITO CEONVGE Ne ok me iMesh yen eens eae ROE ee te eee ton ds 2 O00 OTe 2b Ld ger Ee tle BEE SIS a Ce oo 2,000 ce tEhl co LUGS ay SR oral GEE cas foi i adc eM RN Aa RT 500 MIIMVOISeRIVers....'-.ce... ROTO, BET GRNS GS ACRES RAS REI IER Ge Af A ee 6,000 REL [Dinar 2 ie fey AE ee CA gM RSPR 1 alt OO dO Ae eC 2,000 SURE yee) te) ee me ee ee) SE oe MTS Oat 2,000 [oe LSS alsigd 24/qgC) aie MR SOIR, oA ho Fo a i | CN Oe Rae aia ae LL GB eh 3,000 Mannan rE Arie MARS VONICGHEGLG Mets ree ee. or ee ee Pe oe: 1,000 South Park Lakes, Chicago —2 F.C. Des Plaines: River vis. 30s ee ds. . tei 28s Seles > ic 1,000 Reservoir Illinois Central Railway, Clinton..-.....1.2+...+..20005 eee 200 C., B. &Q. reservoir, Mendota «10.00 0.20 20.64) «n+. tees le a oo 200 WO Warder Rver «vice sg deb tmeny riagcioce s+ 9.3 nase ops emphases ees chan 1,000 Quiney’ Bay. 2... Ge, a a een cad 7 oe due oid s © le ytele seen 2,000 This witha supplementary shipment, was the gift of the United States Com- mission to the State of Illinois, as well as the expense of the car and crew, engaged in the distribution. Car came into the State over the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railway to Vandalia, from which point fish for Okaw, Big Muddy, Saline and Little Wabash Rivers were sent by express. Car came over Iili- nois Central Railway to Springfield, where the Sangamon River and Clear Lake were stocked, ear laying over there one day. From Springfield via Illi- nois Central Railway to Clinton, where the reservoir was stocked; thence te LaSalle, where plant for Lllinois River was made. From there to Mendota, stocking the Chicago, Burlington ’& Quiney Railway reservoir. From Men- dota the fish for Rock River were sent to Dixon. Car then went over Chi- eago, Burlington & Quincy Railway to Aurora, planting Fox River; then to Naperville for the DesPlaines River, reaching Chicago at night. From Chi- cago fish were sent to Kankakee River. Lakes in Lincoln and South Parks were supplied from Chicago. Copied from Report of 1828: On November 13, 1887, car No. 2, United States Fish Commission, in charge of Mr. George H. H. Moore, arrived at Quincey with a load of carp for distri- bution in the public waters of the State. Leaving Quincy at 5 o’cloeck same day, on Wabash Railway, 1,500 blue carp were planted in Illinois River, 500 in lake at Jacksonville, 1,000 in ponds on State Encampment grounds, at Springfield. Car left Springfield at 4:30 p. m. of 14th, on Illinois Central Railway, planting 500 at Clinton, Illinois Central reservoir, arriving at Kan- kakee at 4 o’clock on morning of 15th. Planted in Kankakee River, at Kan- kakee, 5,000. Left Kankakee at 7 o’clock same morning. Ran to Centralia, where carp were left for the following points: Crooked Creek, 250; Clear River, 250; Little Wabash River, 250; Big Muddy River, 250; Okaw River, 250. Leaving Centralia at 8:50 morning of 16th, ran to Decatur, where 1,000 carp were deposited in Sangamon River. Left Decatur at 4:30 p. m., on Wabash Railway, for Quiney, arriving at 12 o’elock at night. Left Quiney on Chicago, Burlington & Quiney Railway, on morning of 18th. Left 250 carp in ponds of Chicago, Burlington & Quiney Railway, at Galesburg. Arrived at Meredosia at 12 o’clock, sending 1,000 carp by messenger to Rock River, at Dixon, and leaving 1,000 at Mendota, for Mendota Lake. Arrived at Aurora at 1:15, planted 2.000 in Fox River, and sent 500 by messenger to Naperville, for DesPlaines River. Arrived at Chicago at 2:45, from there 250 carp were sent to Rockford, for Roek River, and 400 to Richmond, for lakes in McHenry county. Car left for Washington on the night of November 18. Carp were distributed to private applicants two years previous to first plant in public waters. Many of the ponds were destroyed by freshet of 1884-5, which earried down iuto the rivers the fish from the ponds. A very large number of large 2arp were taken the first year of the plant in public waters, and must have been the fish so eseaping. To quote from the report of 1886 again: Of this planting we have not as yet had any report, but that earp will thrive in our rivers, has, we think, been demonstrated beyond a question. About September 10, 1886, Messrs. Schrall and Boles, of Meredosia, tele- graphed to the writer, at Quincy, that they had caught a large carp in the Illinois river near Meredosia, that it was alive and if we wanted it to send for it. I at once sent a messenger and ease for it. On its arrival I found it to be a mirror carp, measuring 3044 inches in length and weighing 15% pounds. The week following another telegram arrived from the same source, telling of another large carp, which, upon arrival here, proved to be almost 19 identically of the same size and weight as the other, weighing one-half pound more and about same length. Both fish are now in the basin of the park fountain at Quincy, and have grown perceptibly since their arrival. These fish, no doubt, had escaped from some ponds connected with some stream tributary to the Illinois river, and perhaps by the carrying away of the dam to carp pond during a freshet, the fish become liberated and found their way to the river. From Smith & Co., of Beardstown, and fishermen at Havana, Pekin, Peoria, and various points on the Illinois river, reports come to us of the catching now and then, of carp, all quite large. On the Mississippi river carp are frequently taken, both the old and young, showing that they not only grow in the rivers, but increase as well. In the Sny Eearte, in Pike county, we are informed that some seine fishermen caught at one baul of the seine about 100 carp, averaging in weight about three pounds each. This catch was reported to us by the fishermen themselves. We did not see the fish, and the statement may be erroneous, but enough has been learned in regard to the matter to demonstrate to our satisfaction that the carp can be successfully introduced into our rivers, and with that end in view we shall undertake to propagate a supply, which, together with those furnished from time to time by the United States fish commission, shall be adequate to people all the streams in the State with them. THE FISHING INDUSTRY. The extent and value of the fish industry of the State is so little known and understood that it may be worth while to call attention to some of its features. Few people, in the State at large, know any- thing about it, and so that they can now and then obtain good fish _at fair prices, care for little else regarding it. Chicago is one of the great fish markets of the world. There are probably more concerns dealing in fish there than of any other one commodity, drawing as they do not only from the State, but from all other states, its supply. We intended, in this report, to give the statistics of the extent of the trade in Chicago, but owing to some cause clearly beyond our control, figures were not ready. We give herewith a copy of an article from New York Fishing Ga- zette which will give an idea of the trade. in our locality, and its im- portance as a food, particularly for the working classes. We also give herewith report of Illinois River Fishermen’s Asso- ciation for the year ending December 31, 1899. This report covers twenty towns on Illinois river, and only in- cludes the fish bought, caught and handled by members of the asso- _ ciation, which comprises only a part of those engaged in market fishing for a livelihood. OS ILP'SS [OL ZZ ‘LS |OF'G98'9S |OP LAL ‘ETS/So'9FO'FS |OSTT9S'LS |00°F96 ‘61$|00°0F9 6S 129° 162 'PGS/0L'086'681S | Bs ie Oa hes ““*"*"saloods £q OD[BA 006 *Z0% 1@2 ‘OL O6P ‘PIL 08S '6SP 186 °26 090°29% = |O0T66P 000° The PSL'ShL'S |066'28E'9 =| °°" ne > ERT Tennis iat ‘salads Yovo Jo spunod 000'9 |o0s't — |o00'z ~—-fooo'st ~—joo0's ~—jo00'z ~—joov'9 ~—jon0‘or ~—joo0‘oot ~—jo00‘0z SF ic CARA. oe 000‘ |000°r |o00'e joon'et —jooe*t ~—sfoog't_~— ooo ~—Ssoonet ~—joog‘gnt © |ooo'ze gp ce ac cel redacted “ees=" CIpae HL 000's loog'r —joog*r —jooo'sz ~—jov0's ~—sosz‘t ~— jon‘ ~—=sooo'oz ~=—j0000ce»«|ooo'6e = J Spee a RNR ke “erTasdurey 000'9 joor't —joos*t —jooo‘or_~—foogtr ~—jooz't_~—jooo‘t —jonn'oz ~—ooo*ozt © fo00‘06 Reo ricgcaais see 1 Oe penis ie } i VP | 4 ‘ \ aes 2 \ ! | 4 et APPEN DIA 31 Recapitulation of expenditures by Illinois State Fish Commission for maintenance of Steamer Reindeer from October 1, 1898 to Sep- tember 30, 1900. Bills of particulars and vouchers on file with State Auditor. Momappropriation/avatlable: duly 1, 1899) ss. ccosncceesnien cocsccchecceeeses Cr. By expenditures (vouchers) for month of July, 1899 .................... ee ee oe ee August, 1899 September, 1899 ae oe oe ae To amount on hand October 1, 1899 To appropriation available July 1, 1900 Cr. By expenditures (vouchers) for month of October, 1899...............-. oe oe a a November, 1899 .............. a °F ee ne Sheba aes ot ee cee eases noe ae oe oe os August, 1900 September, 1900 oe se oe ae Amount on hand October 1, 1900 $2,500 00 $577 55 2,500 00 $8,077 55 $2, 236 19 $841 36 $719 76 790 00 412 69 $1,922 45 296 07 281 48 482 38 675 38 500 88 $2,236 19 Recapitulation and expenditures by Illinois State Fish Commis- sion as purchase, repairs and equipment of Steamer Reindeer. Bills of particulars and sub-vouchers on file with State Auditor. Loappropriation avallablerd uly 1, 1S809Nn..sshacsces macsccsessanacsae cas To proceeds sale of Steamer Lotus, (See note) Cr. By purchase price Steamer Reindeer, (voucher) By repairs and equipment, (voucher) Amount on hand October 1, 1900 ee eee a $5,000 00 1,000 00 $6,000 00 $5,985 86} . $14 14 $3,900 00 85 86 $5,985 86 Recapitulation of expenditures by Illinois State Fish Commission from October 1, 1898 to September 30, 1900. Notre—The Steamer Lotus was sold by and on authority of the Governor to Mr. Harry L. Means, 602 Equitable Building, Louisville, Kentucky, and delivered to purchaser at St. Louis, April, 1899. 32 Bills of particulars and sub-vouchers on file with State Auditor. To amount on hand October 1, 1898................---+++- pstecodaeemnnes $2,021 70 To appropriation available July B89 ees os ie ae oe Gwin as cote owene ce 5,000 00 $7,021 70 Or. SS By expenditure (vouchers) for month of October, 1898............2...00).eee eee eee | ay VP KG 5S INOVember) 1898 >... cc so| seca cesceeee | op = re : December. 1898 )j2-- osccec sor a| ees ese eee fd ie ‘i DANUATY 1809) 3 iano eeclbee eee Mebrn ary, 1899 cnc occseun tee e =| Once eee March, 1899.) 02220 stseccie race veaues coca e ck April 18995 Se fos ses sees ee aac ee : My SOG Ee aie” nrcieais ne tie sores oe eeaeate : : : DUNG 1899 ee ees ose eee see SNM ROO 288 acl oe eect eee ee 24 i (ATIOUISE, 1809 bet aie cssce nee eee ees , ae ; September; 1899). 2ojnees coaces eee eee $3,012 20) Mo amountionsnand October lel soge ss. meat neta eres teeta eee eats $4,008 80 Mojaporopriation availapled uly, 900i amos see sis eee eee oloat a 5,000 00 $9,008 80 Cr. SS By expenditure (vouchers) for month of October, 1899.................. l wave caseuee ie he “ ae November, 1899 ..........- | isaoe aes eee oy ‘ r December, 1899 .. A ees) ae DAN ary; LOU ee. see sac eae4l ween een J i ; HebruaryeOu0 vs cc.ce. sees ec ee Soe ee a nh ; March, 1900. 465). .cteaec eee ae eee ri % APIALT 900: oniSest acts toe cee | bys eae eae . : : Miny S900 hi ia5 sce cova ce caar ae ae eee Yes BVOCs eee eS | PALATE ST H UNLV ged GUO Patan SEN ean nec ceme ale nee eee i UE OUST 100K. a coe ane iciie beer ie | Cos eee September, (900i. ect eee Blas bee $4,424 36 Amount om hand October 1, 1a00 rete ceiestiseteteceeacics cme cece aise cee $4,584 44 SERESReRaE BBSSSSSNAE SS -_ w lad a9 8 <4 & $ SESS 2888 am EYSSNBZSIaGS ww i 0 $4, 424 | $ Recapitulation of expenditures by Illinois State Fish Commission for general expenditure, collection and distribution of fish, etc., from October 1, 1898 to September 30, 1900. Bills of particulars and sub-vouchers on file with State Auditor. To amount to credit of commission October 1, 1898..............2..+---- To amount appropriation available July, 1898......................---0 Cr. By expenditures (vouchers) for month of October....................-. me ye oe 5:1) i sne22 coer te se eae a VOC ESB AI AE e oem coats a farm ctreeeiee ceres Big Muddy ESAT en Cote rs Msteup er aeate nee Kankakee, River, WaANnKAK GC) cem.\.cscetine ccs Vermilion ates Se Pe ee ea achooc OMONCOs cc cwccceeienietscss mbarras 12 it las Succ cew te on sscreteee TFOGHOIRMRILVOD oc oer conc cecces os os sn cceudascees Done diake; ake: Co: lllsccssocsss coaccneeeeen East DesPlaines River pal Ones co saoesn St 500 black bass awnetown, Ill., lake Jacksonville, [ll., lake f°" 14 cans fish RORY ALAMO ss coe cs cee cei 110 black bass .. Crystal Lake and creek . Salt Fork er Wood River........... FISH SUPPLIED PUBLIC WATERS. From Urbana receiving ponds, Urbana. III. ..1,405 black bass Perret errr eee eee eee ee eee eee eee ee er) 672 Crappie Clement’s Soldiers’ Home ~~ ‘Lake, Danville 686 black bass fingerlings naciewacedcae ais a 534 Crappie, adult.. , 480 black bass, 220 War Mouth, sunfish,570. “and 150 ring perch H. ae ponds near Dan- ville eee ta raeae eas nn teres 250 adult fish '—3 F.C. Betis Noes 535 Crappie ee ry eee ee b4 FISH SUPPLIED APPLICANTS. We CaMitchell femacceneseaaeseanes Belleville | Ainsworth & cee je soe Sean aes Pare WodwiTieopoldiiva sss. spices sciec sa bore Belleville H. F. Tallyan . Se hatte oe teas Ueda F183 SMT Li nacoccodrcriodecus <1 Alton | Riley L. Sheren... 2.0.20 0002020..oilisies Pari Damon Ge CVunniclitestsssscstess.ceee Macomb B. E. Hutchinson. 2.5.2. 12scanseee itacubert Alan Mi Clement, 225 /p-)- es «<0 Chicago of Hi. DROMpsOn?. 7. 2s--2.s- sce Prentice Pas mo linger seacsssassecsee: Galesburg A, Townsend: c2s70s0sc-edeeeeee Galesburg OLTAS Kreébszkastescse ce ccecteneass Belleville K e Zimmerman... 2222036 som5 Carterville Chas TD ORs to hclas coche eekies etd Peoria Decatur Jets Cloagh. =. 8-s.cseiacee teases Harristown hig Drile El CMON esaaasecen peace eee Dwight andalia B. F. Pickrell . Lanesville Dahlgren B. B. Boecker.. . Naperville M Carbondale i WeaWs B.Bull.cocssss osteo ee Quincy M.S: Hight .22..5.22.c«0, .c..epeee see Carterville Illinois H. Press Brick Co....... Collinsville” |W CPostaliis.css2 oo CHicaro ee see IWAN Oe FLIMNZ Gs ccc