28 



drying pools thousands of all kinds of fish were taken and put into 

 deeper water near. (See appendix for report.) All this work was 

 done untler the direct supervision of a warden selected by us, and 

 their reports were sent to us. 



THE STEAMER REINDEER. 



The boat formerly owned by the State, which we used in ourvsork, 

 having become, b}^ age, unfit to go through another season, besides 

 being too small and slow to accomplish our purposes, we were forced 

 to look for another and better boat. Upon consultation with Gover- 

 nor Tanner, it was arranged that if the Legislature would make a 

 proper appropriation, he would approve it. This was in the month 

 of December, lb98. We advertised for a boat and after looking over 

 a number which were offered for sale, we found one that suited us. 

 It was the property of the Mississippi River Packet and Towing Co., 

 of Clinton, Iowa. After an unsuccessful season they had concluded 

 to sell out. We took an option on the steamer, called the Reindeer, 

 for $3,900, for sixty days, believing we could tell by that time what 

 would be the probability of the necessary appropriation. The boat 

 cost to build nearly or quite $12,000, but was twelve years old, though 

 perfectly sound, except the hull, which we knew would need renew- 

 ing in a few years. As the upper works and machinery was in every 

 way perfect, we realized that we had a bargain, but by the time the 

 option had expired we were in no better position than at the start, so 

 far as knowing what could be expected from the Legislature. Com- 

 mittees had hardly been organized, and no one could tell what the 

 probabilities for an appropriation would be. As half a dozen others 

 stood ready to pay a thousand dollars advance on our option should 

 we not perfect purchase, we concluded to take the risk and buy the 

 boat, and hold it until we knew what the Legislature would do. 



Immediately after the purchase we were oifered a substantial ad- 

 vance on our cost price for the boat. The Legislature very gener- 

 ously made the appropriation, and the boat was refitted and placed 

 in commission, and used by the commissioners until the appropria- 

 tion was available, when we were reimbursed for the purchase 

 money. 



The Reindeer is 127 feet long, 28 feet beam, full cabin, and has 

 seven state rooms and offices for the commissioners. The machinery 

 is very powerful, and of the latest improvements, and the boat has 

 electric search light, and is fully equipped. It is one of the swiftest 

 boats on the river, and when we get a new hull under lier will be one 

 of the staunchest, and would readily bring double the amount of her 

 cost to the State. She is equipped with a complete circulating ap- 

 paratus, large galvanized iron tanks, and can hold 10,000 young fish 

 on board for several days with safety. 



With her we are able to do good service patrolling the rivers, and 

 with her great speed we can cover long distances quickly. Her pres- 

 enfle on the Illinois river has done much to bring about better en- 

 forcement of the law, and while illegal fishing has not been entirely 

 abolished, it has been materially diminished and kept in check. 



