8 



past season has demonstrated its value, in that never in the 

 historj^ of the llHnois river have fish been as plenty as during 

 the past two months. 



We believe the people at large want the fish protected, and 

 that even the responsible fishermen themselves are in favor of 

 laws that will prevent the practical Extinction of the fish. Our 

 laws, with slight modification, are sufficiently strong. What we 

 "want now is means and methods to enforce them. 



FISH WAYS. 



Since the last report there has been a very active enforcement 

 of the law upon this subject. Locally, those interested in the 

 preservation of food and game fish have shown a decided ac- 

 tivity in assisting the Commissioners in freeing the rivers from 

 obstructions to the passage of fish. Foremost in the work in 

 this State has been the Fox Kiver P^ish and Game Club. Their 

 efficient President, Mr. George E. Cole, deserves more than pass- 

 ing mention from us for his vigorous and successful work in this 

 direction. He has, personally, a number of times, gone the en- 

 tire length of Fox river in Illinois, giving the dams a careful 

 inspection, and familiarizing himself with their needs as regards 

 an opeu way for fish. He and his representatives have, by per- 

 sistent work and able co-operation with the Commissioners, suc- 

 ceeded in causing to be placed in every dam on Fox river, in 

 the State of Illinois, a good and sufficient fishway. 



The work upon that river has been accomplished without re- 

 course to legal measures, and we think without entailing upon 

 any of the parties in interest any unnecessary' expense or hard- 

 ship, while the advantage to the waters themselves and those 

 deriving any benefit from them has been of incalculable value. 



Not alone upon Fox river has this work been carried on. In 

 the proper place in this report will be found a list of dams pro- 

 vided with fishways, and a proper report in each case. 



We regard the question of the removal of obstructions in the 

 rivers for the free passage of fish as one of the great essentials 

 for the successful repopulation of the waters of such rivers. 

 Argument in its favor is unnecessary ; it is only a plain question 

 of the statement of a fact. An obstruction sutficient to ])revent 

 the passage of fish at all seasons of the year, Avhether it be a 

 dam or anything else, means, under ordinary circumstances, a 

 depletion of all waters above such obstructions, of fisli. and this 

 permanenth', unless restocked by artificial methods : while upon 

 the other hand, a free course for fish means an ever-increasing 

 supply of young for the whole length of the stream, ]U'oviding 

 proper protection is given them. 



