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  REPORT 
  OF 
  COMMISSIONER 
  OF 
  FISH 
  AND 
  FISHERIES. 
  

  

  ILLINOIS. 
  

  

  The 
  fisheries 
  of 
  this 
  State 
  are 
  more 
  important 
  than 
  those 
  of 
  any- 
  

   other 
  of 
  the 
  interior 
  States. 
  The 
  large 
  water-courses 
  within 
  the 
  State 
  

   or 
  on 
  its 
  boundaries 
  contain 
  a 
  great 
  abundance 
  and 
  variety 
  of 
  desira- 
  

   ble 
  food-fishes. 
  In 
  allusion 
  to 
  the 
  abundance 
  of 
  suckers, 
  Illinois 
  is 
  

   known 
  as 
  the 
  " 
  sucker 
  " 
  State. 
  This 
  name 
  is 
  well 
  applied, 
  since 
  more 
  

   than 
  half 
  the 
  whole 
  yield 
  of 
  the 
  fisheries 
  represents 
  fishes 
  of 
  the 
  

   sucker 
  tribe. 
  The 
  Mississippi, 
  Ohio, 
  and 
  Illinois 
  rivers 
  are 
  the 
  scene 
  

   of 
  valuable 
  fisheries, 
  and 
  the 
  Wabash, 
  Kankakee, 
  Sangamon, 
  Kas- 
  

   kaskia, 
  and 
  Big 
  Muddy 
  rivers 
  have 
  fisheries 
  of 
  some 
  importance. 
  The 
  

   industry 
  is 
  also 
  of 
  considerable 
  value 
  in 
  several 
  lakes. 
  In 
  1894 
  over 
  

   11,500,000 
  pounds 
  of 
  fish 
  and 
  other 
  products 
  were 
  taken 
  for 
  market 
  in 
  

   this 
  State. 
  The 
  catch 
  in 
  seines 
  was 
  over 
  4,600,000 
  pounds, 
  and 
  in 
  fyke 
  

   nets 
  nearly 
  as 
  much, 
  while 
  lines, 
  trammel 
  nets, 
  and 
  small 
  traps 
  took 
  

   comparatively 
  large 
  quantities. 
  Next 
  to 
  buffalo-fish 
  and 
  other 
  suckers 
  

   the 
  leading 
  fishes 
  are 
  catfish, 
  carp, 
  and 
  drum. 
  

  

  Table 
  nhoiring 
  by 
  waiers 
  the 
  number 
  of 
  persons 
  employed 
  in 
  the 
  fisheries 
  of 
  Illinois 
  in 
  1894. 
  

  

  •' 
  Represents 
  the 
  aotnal 
  number 
  engaged, 
  allowing 
  for 
  duplications. 
  

  

  Table 
  showing 
  by 
  waters 
  the 
  boats, 
  apparatus, 
  and 
  property 
  employed 
  in 
  the 
  fisheries 
  of 
  

  

  Illinois 
  in 
  1894. 
  

  

  