RETURNS TO PRIVATE OWNERS 
We have discussed fish and wildlife values to the public of riverbottom lakes in the 
Illinois and Mississippi river valleys of Illinois, What income would fish and wildlife bring toa 
private owner of these lands? Most of the natural bottomlands of the Illinois River are owned by 
duck shooting clubs, or by individuals who lease their lands for waterfowl hunting; most of those 
along the Mississippi River are owned by the federal government after having been acquired in 
conjunction with the canalization of that river, Leveed agricultural lands in both river valleys 
are privately owned, 
Table 13,--Income from rental or lease of duck-hunting rights on bottomland lakes in the 
Illinois River valley, 1937-1947, 
Place Average Yearly Gea Per Acre| Period Covered 
Bule@ bel 83.5 congosopodseees $2,114 $2513 1937-1942 
Mimivier Take 5.5 coseccsicns 100 1,215 V25u5 1944 
QuiversGreek. oo .i..ccse 5 1,030 206,00 1943-1945 
IMGScCOW Bay... ccccecs0e 200 1,800 9,00 1947 
Miserable Lake........ : 200 1,100 5,50 1943-1944 
Lake Senachwine,,,..... 80 2,000 25.00 1943-1944 
Goose PONG oi ccesssssce 800 4,000 5.00 1946-1947 
gE ASRS espe naan ce 2,419 $13,259 
JANET ER So cobacpnocuOGe One ee) ce 
Table 13, shows the income landowners have received from the rental or lease of 
waterfowl hunting rights on various Illinois River valley areas, The average annual revenue 
was $5.48 per acre, 
Some owners of bottomland waters do and some do not obtain revenue from the com- 
mercial fish taken from their property, Many duck club officials consider the fishing rights in 
the salary compensation of their caretakers and other personnel, Some charge a flat fee of 
several dollars per acre for commercial fishing rights, Other lake owners receive cash for half 
of the catch, The owner who conducted his own fishing operations grossed about $9.65 per acre 
annually, table 6, in the period 1943-1947, 
Lake property owners along the Illinois and Mississippi rivers realize considerable 
income from the rental of boats to anglers, as indicated by table 14. Income listed in this table 
is derived from renting boats at the rate of $1,00 per day at Rice Lake and Lake Chautauqua in 
the Illinois River valley and at Spring Lake in the Mississippi River valley, The lack of income 
rail 
