Fig. 6.--Hoopnets or fykes are widely used as tackle by commercial 
fishermen in Illinois, 
COMMERCIAL FISHERIES VALUE 
Commercial fish -- carp, buffalo, catfish, bullheads, and sheepshead -- are a re- 
sourceyfigs, 5 and 6, of bottomland lakes almost as valuable in the public economy as are water- 
fowl, Studies made by aquatic biologists of the Illinois Natural History Survey indicate that 
bottomland lakes in the Illinois and Mississippi river valleys are capable of producing 200 to 300 
pounds of fish per acre each year, 
The harvest has, however, seldom equaled this amount, table 5, for regulations limit- 
ing the size and season, and prohibiting the taking of crappies, have been more restrictive than 
is believed necessary by some fisheries experts, It is to be anticipated that, with public ac- 
ceptance of a need for more liberal fishing laws, regulations will be altered to permit a greater 
harvest of this resource, 7c 
