18 



or steamed until the shells open and the flesh can be removed, and 

 this is when the pearls may be looked for, and many very fine ones have 

 been taken. 



This industry, comparatively new on the Illinois river, is of long 

 standing in other rivers of the country. The Wabash, Tennessee, 

 Cumberland and many other rivers have been fished out, and hundreds 

 of people are now coming to the Illinois river to engage in the work. 

 We call attention to this matter for several reasons, first, the con- 

 tinuous drain on the supply will deplete the rivers of these mollusk 

 in a few years, and some restriction should be placed on the catch and 

 the spawning season should be protected. Then a license for non- 

 resident fishermen should be exacted, as the influx from other states 

 is great and increasing, and other states require such license. Hundreds 

 of men now at work fishing for clams in this State are non-resident. 

 Having depleted the rivers of their own state they are now working 

 ours and we hold that our own people should be given the preference 

 if possible, at least they should be protected by the requirement of a 

 good license for non-residents. Efforts are being made by the LJ. S. 

 Fish Commission to determine the life, habits, spawning season, and 

 other data of the mollusks, and give the states and other interests 

 reliable details on which to frame proper legislative restrictions as to 

 taking them. 



Our Native Fish. 



Very few people throughout the State are acquainted with the fish 

 our waters produce, and we have been asked to name them. 



Prof. S. A. Forbes, of the State University, has from time to time 

 issued a bulletin giving names and descriptions of such fish as are 

 found in Illinois. Prof. Forbes is one of the best authorities on fish 

 and fish life in the country, and our list given here will be compiled 

 from it, giving those, most commonly taken, and such as are usually 

 brought into general use : 



Basses. 



Large Mouth Black Bass. 



Very plentiful in Illinois river, the tributaries and lakes adjoining. Highly 

 praised by the angler and the flesh considered first class. 



Small Mouth Black Bass. 



Very few in Illinois river. They are more plentiful in the clearer rivers 

 and lakes. 



Rock Bass. 



Not very plentiful. A good biter and table fish. 



Striped Bass. Yellow Bass. 



Takes minnows. Not very abundant. Good flesh. 



Drk Crappie, Calico Bass. 



Very plentiful. Good biters. Flesh excellent. All deep water on Illinois 

 river affords good sport. 



Pale Crappie. 



Very plentiful. Caught in large numbers under all the dams and drifts. 



