all times and under all circumstances, any appliances used for fish- 

 ing which are of a nature contrary to law, such as seines with too 

 small mesh, as fyke or hook nets, that contain parts of improper 

 mesh, or as trammel nets, fiddler baskets, wing nets or battery of 

 nets with unreasonable leads, all so placed as to obstruct the free 

 passage of fish contrary to the provisions of the law. This law is 

 working with admirable efPect in all of the adjoining states, and has 

 been the means of a better enforcement of the law by a larger per 

 cent than we have been able to show. Under the proper heads of 

 this report we submit a synopsis of such a law as we think would 

 meet the requirements. The time has come in the State of Illinois- 

 when the rigid enforcement of some law is a necessity, and we are 

 free to admit that some of the provisions of our present law should 

 be so amended as to make the enforcement of the law possible and 

 complete without doing injustice to those legitimately engaged in 

 the business of catching and selling fish. \Ye note with a great deal 

 of pleasure a large increased number of dealers and fishermen who 

 are inclined, not only to obey the law, but to assist us in its enforce- 

 ment. The Illinois Fishermen's Association has numbered amongst 

 its membership a large number of men who inject into their business 

 practical methods, and believe in the necessity of providing for the 

 future, if a successful continuance and profitable outcome of their 

 business is to be had. We are in receipt of a number of letters from 

 the prominent fishermen and dealers along the river, asking that the 

 close season be so lengthened as will include the hot months, taking^ 

 the position that there are very many more fish ruined and wasted 

 when caught during the months of July and August than are suc- 

 cessfully saved and marketed. We have under advisement the propo- 

 sition, and will make an exhaustive investigation of the concensus of 

 opinion along the river, and submit to the next session of the Legis- 

 lature our views as to the advisability of the measure. We would 

 also advocate an absolutely close season in the taking of bass and 

 kindred fishes during certain seasons of the year covering the spawn- 

 ing season, within a limited distance of any dam. This for the rea- 

 son that more harm is done by the indiscriminate taking of spawning 

 bass at or near the base of the dam during the spawning season while 

 the fish are congregated there, making an effort to get up over the 

 dam to spawning ground. It has not been an unusual sight to see 

 large numbers of such fish taken in a single day under such condi- 

 tions. 



OLLECTION OF FISHES. 



The collection of fishes for distribution depends always on the 

 condition of the season, whether the water is high or low, the 

 weather hot or cold, and the distribution must, naturally, be propor- 

 tionate to the collection. 



The season of 1899 was above the average, that of 1900 was cur- 

 tailed on account of high water in the Illinois river, and just the 

 contrary condition in the Mississippi river, which was very low. The 

 water rose early in the season on the Illinois river from the usual 



