17 



vital importance. In spring lakes where the percentage of game 

 fishes run high, natural breeding grounds for the basses, it has prob- 

 ably worked some harm. Not on account of destruction to the spawn 

 and other fish as alleged, by its combative tendencies, but from the 

 fact that as a vegetable feeder they destroy, to some extent, vegeta- 

 tion and keep the water stirred up. This objection however, can not 

 be made in the greater portion of Illinois waters. 



Great flat lakes, with muddy bottoms line both sides of the Illinois 

 river for a greater part of its length. The Illinois river itself, from 

 its character, is a natural home for them and a proper proportion of 

 bass, and crappie are always found everywhere, and as constantly in- 

 creasing as are the carp. There is and can be no reason to regret 

 their introduction in such waters. We have no need to defend them 

 or their usefulness, the figures and facts show for themselves. A 

 glance at report of Illinois River Fishermen Association will show 

 the results. 



Some criticism has been made as to the act of the commission in 

 introducing them into our waters, but mainly from the anglers' 

 standpoint. In fact we have been told that the carp have so depleted 

 the wild grass of some of the lakes that it has caused the wild ducks 

 to change their breeding grounds. And intimations have been made 

 that not even the corn fields adjacent to the river were safe from 

 their invasion. Be that as it may, as stated before, while in some 

 few localities the carp may not be just what people want, but the 

 fact remains that the carp are giving to the people of the State more 

 employment, more money, and more food than all other of our 

 native fish combined, and the prejudice early existing is fast giving 

 way, and almost every hotel table in the State, carp on bill of fare, 

 can occasionally be found. 



It may be a matter of interest to note what they have accomplished. 

 In 1885 the first plant was made in our public waters by the United 

 States commission and we give here the itinerary of the trip and 

 location of plants. 



Copied from Report of 1886: 



Last season the first experiment was made of stocking the rivers of Illinois 

 with carp. The United States Fish Commission gave the State a carload of 

 carp, and sent their ear No. 3 in charge of J. F. Ellis to this State to dis- 

 tribute them under the direction of the State Fish Commission, which was 

 accomplished, by placing them as follows: 



Okaw River 3,000 



Saline River 2.000 



Little Waba.«h River 2,000 



Big Muddy River 2,000 



Sangamon River 2,000 



Clear Lake 500 



Illinois River 5,000 



Rock River 2.000 



Fox River 2,000 



Kankakee River 3.000 



Lincoln Park Lakes, Chicago 1,000 



South Park Lakes, Chicago 1,000 



—2 r. c. 



