13 



RECAPITULATION. 



Soines and nets seized '. 



Seines and nets claimed and i-eturnod 



Seines and nets destroyed 



Seines and nets stolen from warden 



ProsecutU)ns 



Convictions 



Number discharyed 



Total amount of fines and costs assessed 



Amount serveil out in jails by defendants 



Fines and costs not collected (execution issued) 



Number of appeals, taken by state, now pending 



Number of appeals, taken by defendants, now pending 



RespectfuMy, etc., 



M. D. GREEiSr, 



State Fish Warden. 



One of the greatest and grandest food supplies we have in the State of 

 Illinois, is the Illinois river. The thousands of pounds of food fish ille- 

 gallj' taken from the river by seines and nets, (not only those large 

 enough for market, but the small fry left on the shore to perish,) con- 

 tinue to rob our streams of nature's food intended for the many and not 

 for the few. What can be done? First prohibit all seining, netting, 

 spearing or any device whatsoever, except hook, line and rod, for a term 

 of years, not less than ten years at least. 



Second. All seins, nets, fish baskets and spears, or any device used for 

 the illegal catching or killing of fish should be confiscated and destroyed 

 in such manner as the flsh warden may see fit when found in use, and 

 any boat found used in illegal Ashing should be confiscated and sold and 

 the proceeds thereof be turned over to the secretary of the State Fish 

 Commission, and all persons found assisting or in any way connected as 

 partners or owners of any seines, nets, flsh baskets or other device known, 

 except hook, line and rod, that said nets or other devices used as a seine 

 is in use, or proper proof of their being used, that such party or parties 

 be prosecuted before a justice of the peace or grand jury, and fined or 

 sent to jail according to law. But more funds are necessary as it is im-- 

 possible to bring the illegal fishermen to justice, (living in remote places 

 as they do) witiiout considerable expense. It makes no difference how 

 good a man is or what his motives are to bring the illegal fishermen to 

 justice, it is actually necessary to compensate the warden, under the ex- 

 isting law no provision is made for the compensation of wardens, the law 

 should be so amended as to provide for their payments. A warden to do 

 his duty suffers great hazard and exposure as well as loss of time from 

 his own busidess and great trouble in making arrests and getting up wit- 

 nesses, this is something that no man can afford to do. Dr. S. P. Bart- 

 lett, Secretary of the Illinois Fish Commission, placed the U. S. steamer 

 Lotus in my charge during the spring of 1892, and between Peoria and 

 LaSalle I captured twenty-four nets, yet at this time the river is full of 

 nets, but witiiout money to keep up the tight it is useless to try to en- 

 force the present law. 



I have received great assistance from the Illinois River Fish Protective 

 Association both morally and financially, as also from iST. W. Duncan, 

 Esq., Treasurer of the Illinois State Fish League, who deserves great credit 

 for his thorough and willing assistance. 



I have employed H. L. Watlington, Esq., attorney at LaSalle, 111., in 

 the prosecution of illegal fishermen, he has made the fish laws a specialty, 

 after a thorough study and has been quite successful. 



The reports of fish being killed in large numbers in the Big Vermilion 

 river are almost daily brought to my attention, this needs early action on 

 the part of the authorities. The waters of this river are polluted by 



