*8 



Summary. 



Taken altogether we do not feel that these two past seasons have 

 been barren of results. Public attention has been called to the Illinois 

 river by the water way agitation and practical men have gone over it 

 with a view to investigating its posibilities ; not once but probably 

 scores of times, we have heard men exclaim that they had not known 

 that such a beautiful river existed in Illinois, and the most favorable 

 comments are made as to its possibilities for the future. While look- 

 ing over the river for other purposes all have noticed and called at- 

 tention to the great number of men, boats, and outfits engaged in the 

 fishing industry. At every city, town and landing along its whole 

 length are seen cabin boats fitted up for shipping of fish and well 

 equipped boats, some of them of a very expensive type, fitted up for 

 fishing purposes. At almost every high point on the river hundreds 

 of nets were seen stretched out to dry waiting for the water to subside 

 enough to be able to use them. At almost every bend of the river is a 

 cabin boat occupied by some fisherman and his family, and all are pros- 

 perous. It is a river two hundred and fifty miles in length, with wide 

 bottom lands extending miles between the river and the bluffs, and 

 along these bottoms is stretched a large chain of beautiful lakes, some 

 of them of spring water, all of them perfect breeding places for fish. 

 The industry is large, and it is the poor man's opportunity. The waters 

 are stocked and protected by the State, the seed sown and crop growir 

 so to speak and the worker has but to go and gather it and if this is 

 done under proper restrictions it will be ever increasing and everlast- 

 ing. The observance of the law has been better than in former sea- 

 sons. Men are becoming more rational, and taught by experience 

 aided by the strong arm of the law, have begun to see that tomorrow 

 will not take care of itself in the matter of increase of fish, and that 

 only proper protection during the spawning periods can assure a con- 

 tinuance of the supply. 



The General Assembly has aided the commission in its work by giv- 

 ing us such amendments as have been known to be necessary, and we 

 are pleased to be able to say that the fishermen themselves are advo- 

 cating a shorter period for the use of the seine, to cut off some of the 

 hottest months. This would add thousands of dollars to their income 

 in time, and save from absolute waste hundreds of pounds of fish now 

 caught during the hot weather. A campaign of education has been our 

 work. It has taken years to accomplish it but those most interested, 

 the fishermen, are beginning to see the practicability of closer seasons, 

 from the standpoint of self interest. 



The Steamer Illinois is proving a very important help to our work, 

 and being fast is enabled to get over the river frequently and as a 

 patrol has kept down a large amount of illegal fishing. The responsi- 

 ble men engaged in the business do not need watching, but there are 

 yet hundreds who take but little thought for the fuure of the busi- 

 ness, but let each day take care of itself, and take what they can get 

 whenever they can get it. 



