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In compliance with the above, the Illinois Board of World's 

 Fair Cominissioners apportioned from the appropriation, for the 

 use of the Board of Fish Commissioners, the sum of $5,000 to 

 cover the cost of such exhibio. One thousand two hundred dol- 

 lars of this money was set aside for the jjurpose of making a 

 complete collection of the various fishes of the State, properly 

 identified and arranj>;ed, and Prof. S. A. Forbes, of the Univer- 

 sity of Illinois, kindly consented to oversee and direct the col- 

 lection and preparation of this exhibit, and said collection is to 

 be placed as a part of the exhibit of the University of Illinois 

 and the State Fish Commission, jointly. 



Your Board has submitted a plan of exhibit of live .fish, to- 

 gether with the various implements and appliances used in our 

 work. It is the purpose of the Board to make a comprehensive 

 displa3% as nearly as possible, with the funds at our disposal, 

 of the resources of the waters of the state as a food producing 

 supply. We purpose departing from the regular beaten path of 

 live fish exhibits, discarding the old-fashioned aquaria, and un- 

 dertaking to place, in the space allowed us, live fish, under con- 

 ditions as nearly natural as possible, showing the operation of 

 the fishway, the natural and artificial production of fish, and 

 the methods used in our work. S. P. Bartlett and Maj. George 

 Breuning, of our Board, have been designated by the World's 

 Fair Board to take charge of and place such exhibit. 



THE U. S. FISH COMMISSION. 



The United States Fish Commission have been co-operating 

 with us in the work of rescuing and distributing native food 

 fishes. In this they have placed us under renewed obligations 

 for generous assistance to an extent greater than we could con- 

 sistently ask. Our w^ork has been mutual, and, while receiving 

 their share of fish, they have generously borne a portion of the 

 expense of making our distribution that should properly have 

 been paid by our Commission. We have received each year wall- 

 eyed pike and carp, which have been placed in our public waters 

 and given to applicants for private ponds. Several of the 

 streams of Northern Illinois have been planted with trout. Lake 

 Michigan has been well cared for by the U. S. Commission in 

 the plants of the white fish and trout. The U. S. Fish Commis- 

 sion has made rapid progress in doing its share in solving one 

 of the 2:reat problems of the age, viz: the question of food 

 supply, and has, through the administration of Col. M. McDon- 

 ald, U. S. Fish Commissioner, put into pi-actical operation a 

 number of enterprises that will be productive of great good in 

 aiding the waters to produce their full share of food. 



STEAMER "lotus." 



Our steamer has proven to be a valuable auxiliary in our 

 w^ork, in gathering and transporting the fisli. as well as for 

 police purposes, in patrolling the various rivers of the State. 



