It is to us a matter of surprise that a business of such magnitude 

 of so much importance to the general public, and so far-reaching in 

 its results, dividing its proceeds as it does, between the fisherman, the 

 dealer, and the transportation companies, should be so little known 

 and understood. This is particularly true of the Illinois river, which, 

 from its peculiar nature, forms one of the greatest fish producing 

 streams in the country. Its bottom lands abound in lakes or depres- 

 sions which the overflow of the river forms into lakes, and all these 

 are filled by these frequently recurring overflows, several times a 

 year, and these lakes, large or small, deep or shallow, afford an im- 

 mense area of spawning ground which should provide a supply 

 practically inexhaustible if properly protected. The shallow wa- 

 ters usually dry up during the hot weather, and the young fish so 

 left should furnish our supply for purposes of distribution. The 

 many deeper lakes having a continuous connection with the river 

 form additional spawning ground and safe harborage for the fish. 



In this connection it may be well to say a word on a subject which 

 has caused much discussion; that is, the relation of the commercial 

 and the sporting interests of the fish question. The commission is 

 often charged with favoring the market fishermen as against the 

 angler. We believe that, if the facts were understood, it would be 

 seen that while we are doing everything we can to promote the in- 

 crease of the coarser food fishes, we are, at the same time, increasing 

 the supply of the gamier varieties proportionately. Let it be remem- 

 bered that, of the whole product of Illinois waters, 85 per cent of the 

 output is formed of the coarser varieties, the fish which are used for 

 shipping throughout the State and to the East for commercial pur- 

 poses. This estimate includes, in numbers according to the order in 

 which we name them, carp, buffalo, white perch, catfish and bull- 

 pouts. The remaining 15 per cent is made up of sunfish, crappie, 

 black bass, white bass, war-mouth bass and the pickerel family, with 

 some yellow perch, wall-eyed pike, etc. These fish are all more or 

 less carniverous and subsist chiefly on live food. Minnows and the 

 young of the carp, buffalo and sunfish form probably the greater part 

 of their food, and were it not that nature has so nicely balanced the 

 production of the young of the coarser varieties to provide this sup- 

 ply, it would only be a question of time when the streams would be 

 depleted of all but the carniverous varieties, when thev would de- 

 stroy their own young until the survival of the larger fishes only 

 would result. This has been demonstrated by experience and observa- 

 tion; one instance bearing on the fact may be quoted here. In Min- 

 nesota, about fifteen miles above Alexandria, is a lake known as Ver- 

 mont Lake, from which nothing but bass and pickerel were taken, 

 and all were large fish, no small ones appearing. All were thin and 

 gaunt, and when dressed and cooked showed by the formation of the 

 bones, particularly the ribs, signs of extreme age. These had, un- 

 doubtedly, in the course of time destroyed all other fish, including 

 their own young. 



The carp were especially prolific, the adult female dropping from 

 200,000 to 600,000 eggs at spawning time, and these being adhesive, 

 attach themselves to sticks and stones and mature and hatch very 



