ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW, 



The most difficult part of the work of the Commission has 

 been the enforcement of the fish laws. While from wardens re- 

 ports it will be found that a large number of convictions have 

 resulted from their work, yet but a small part of those who are 

 fishino- with unlawful appliances have been apprehended and 

 punished. The law itself is, and has been, the subject of con- 

 siderable perplexity in that the courts of the State have inter- 

 preted it in different ways. Wherever a case has been carried 

 up, the Supreme Court has, so far, invariably held the law to 

 be o'ood. One of the most notable cases was that of the People 

 vs. Bridges, which, in effect, settles an important point, viz : 

 that any pond or lake, whether owned exclusively by one per- 

 son or not, if at any time during- the year is connected with the 

 rivers, comes under the provisions of the fish laws. Several 

 other cases are now pending before the higher courts, affecting 

 various other sections of the laws. 



The territory to be covered is so large, and the interest rep- 

 resented so extensive, that it has been a difficult matter to sive 

 it the attention required, and very much dissatisfaction with 

 the Commission has resulted from that cause. AVhenever a case 

 of violation of the law has occurred and been noted, the first 

 step taken by parties interested has been to notify this office 

 and demand the personal attention of the Commissioners. Often 

 even the names of the violators were not known, or if known, 

 no one could be found who was a witness to the violation. In 

 as many cases as possible, personal attention has been given to 

 the matter, and, as a result, we have on hand a large number 

 of suits for damages, trespass, &c., and in one instance the 

 court has assessed damages for trespass. These suits are brought 

 personally against one of the Commissioners, and, while there 

 is but little probability of their being successfully prosecuted 

 when taken to higher c irts, still they must be defended, as a 

 judgment by default nii^ht prove, in time, a troublesome 

 neighbor. 



In one case the wardens were sent to Pike county to look 

 after trammel netters in the Sni Ecarte. This stream is sixty 

 miles in length, running through a part of Adams, Pike and 

 Calhoun counties, the upper end of it cut off by the Sni Ecarte 

 levee, and the stream proper forms a drain for the levee district. 

 The stream is well adapted to fish, and affords a large supply 

 for the angler. Several large and beautiful club houses have 

 been built at various points along the stream, and a consider- 

 able sum of money expended in taking care of the various 

 stretches of water comprising the stream, for the streams run- 

 ning into the Sni from the bluffs have formed a bar at the 

 mouth of such streams, which practically make of the Sni a 

 series of lakes. 



W"e were notified that market fishermen, part of whom be- 

 longed in Missouri, in the city of Hannibal, which is only about 



