3 
EKarly in 1926 we started tagging fishes with a hundred 
aluminum tags furnished by the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries. No further 
tagging was done until the summer of 1929 when we changed to tags 
made of non-corrosive metal in two sizes—the so-called No. <'s and 
No, 5's. These tags bore a serial number on one side and the letters 
INHS, for Illinois Natural History Survey, on the other. In the 
course of four seasons of field work, 1929-1952, 7,000 fishes have 
been tagged as a part of aquatic surveys and fisheries research cover- 
ing the more important waters of the state. The fishes were usually 
tagged and released near the spot where they were caught, although 
occasionally they were released a few miles away. The localities in 
Illinois where fishes were tagged are indicated in Fig. l., p. 4. 
In order to secure returns from these tagged fishes placards 
showing an illustration of a fish with a tag attached and worded as 
follows were posted at places where fishing licenses are sold, boat 
yards, sportsmen's hotels, fish market boats, resorts, etc.: 
WATCH FOR TAGGEL FISH 
The migration and growth of important 
kinds of Illinois fishes are being studied by 
marking them with small metal tags clamped to 
the upper side of the tail fin. These tags have 
a number on one side and INHS on the other. 
Bass, crappies, blue gills, sunfish, wall- 
eyed pike, pickerel, sheepshead, channel cat, 
mud cat, bullheads, carp, buffalo, redhorse, 
suckers, etc., have been tagged in many parts 
of Illinois. Records have been kept showing 
the exact kind, weight, length, tag number, and 
the place and date that each fish was tagged 
and released. 
We invite fishermen to cooperate by re- 
turning the tage and about 10 scales from the 
middle of the left side of the fish to the 
NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY 
URBANA, ILLINOIS 
with information showing the body of water and 
exact location where the fish was taken, and 
if possible, the weight and length. 
If desired, the tag will be returned with 
information showing how far the fish had 
travelled and how much it had grown since it 
was originally tagged. 
