204 American Fisheries Society 



While from one standpoint that appears strange, yet, to my mind, 

 it is precisely identical with the movement which calls for the preser- 

 vation of the forest and mountain areas where game of the bird type 

 or of the mammalian type live, which will give to the citizens of the 

 stale and to subsequent generations, an opportunity whereby there 

 can be experienced the enjoyment of the woods and mountains. 



I know of nothing in other states to the eastward which is really 

 parallel to the condition which exists in the valley of the Illinois River. 

 I wish the members might have the opportunity to go up and down the 

 Illinois — not to see this main channel of the river, but to have a chance 

 to wander in a boat out into these enormous side-arms of the stream, 

 and see the beautiful lakes that have been developed there by Nature, 

 and the splendid opportunities that these fish have for existence. 



I can say as a stranger who has recently come to the state of Illi- 

 nois that it is a revelation to any man to see the character of those 

 lakes; and there are some of them which I have been privileged to 

 visit that are miles in length, as well as hundreds and perhaps thousands 

 of acres in area. If at any time this Society should have the oppor- 

 tunity to visit one of those lakes and to see the natural conditions 

 which still obtain there, 1 am sure that you would feel like joining 

 with us of Illinois in demanding that some way or other something of 

 that type should be preserved. (Applause.) 



Dr. Bean: Just a word mure. I neglected to state that Xew York 

 bad another resource in the shape of feeding grounds for fish, in its 

 artificial water ways. In the fall of each year the Conservation Com- 

 mission, which now includes the old Forest Fish and Game Commis- 

 sion, is invited to send experienced men to the vicinity of Rochester 

 to collect fishes which have grown up in the canal, in what they call 

 the east and west waters. The number of good fish taken that way is 

 almost startling. It includes black bass, pike-perch, calico bass, rock 

 bass and various either good fishes. So that in addition to its preserves 

 the state has artificial breeding grounds for Fish from which it has 

 drawn large stores. 



Mr. H. Wheeler Perce, Chicago, 111.: Coming from Illinois, I 

 would like to put in a plea for the assistance ><i this Society in bringing 

 about the conditions Dr. Bartlett referred to, which are much desired 

 by those of us in Illinois acquainted with the situation and advocating 

 fish conservation. 



It would seem to me at a casual glance, that a knowledge of any 

 enactment of any state setting aside for the permanent use of the 

 Mate some particular section of land, whether it he mountain land, 

 water land, prairie land or forest land, would help us in any efforts 

 that we may make for the preservation of this section of the country 

 spoken of by Dr. Bartlett. Surely some members of this Society can 

 aid us materially by advising of what has been accomplished, and in 

 what manner, in their own state or locality. 



