American Fisheries Society. 47 



been vast quantities of fry liatehed and put in the out-l^dng 

 waters for the benefit of the commercial fishermen. 



Lake Winnebago and the Fox Eiver (where I live) are the 

 storm centers of illegal fishing, and the ilk'gal fishermen and the 

 pirates have been encouraged by the protection of the "A. Booth 

 Fish Co." Wagon loads and wagon loads of illegally caught fish 

 have within the last few months been taken en route from Lake 

 Winnebago to Green Bay. They have been bought and shipped 

 knowing that these game fish have been illegally netted in the 

 inland waters of Wisconsin. It seems to me it is time the Fish 

 Commission and Legislators take note of these facts. 



Mr. Titcomb's remarks in which he said, "that they did not 

 stock waters that were private in Vermont," is analogous to the 

 idea that the State Fish Commission of Wisconsin should not 

 propagate fish for the benefit of a corporation that assists pirati- 

 cal fishermen to break the law by buying illegally caught fish, 

 knowing that such is the case. The transportation companies 

 respect the law and refuse to ship fish from these waters, and 

 the only Avay that we shall be able to correct the evil is to make it 

 unprofitable for the illegal fishermen, first, by stringent laws, 

 that make it possible to destroy the utensils, nets, ])oats, etc. 

 Then to destroy the market, and the thing is done. 



It would seem as if some one state might originate a clear 

 rational law that could l)e adopted l)y other states that would be 

 effective. 



The President : I had this very point in mind when I sug- 

 gested the subject of building up public sentiment. Before we 

 can pass proper laws we have got to interest the public and create 

 public sentiment in the interest of fish culture. 



