returns frequently would not pay the freight. The fish were usually 

 packed in sugar hogsheads and sent by boat to St. Louis, and it was 

 not unusual to see more of these hogsheads offered at the landing 

 than the boats could take. Taken during spawning season the loss to 

 the waters naturally involved not only those taken but their natural 

 increase and meant the destruction of a possible future supply, and 

 so the catch of each succeeding year became less and less till the var- 

 iety became nearly extinct, and even now after thirty years the nat- 

 ural increase from the survivors has not been able to nearly repair the 

 wholesale destruction of those improvident years. The first law passed 

 for the protection of fish or of any other close season met with univer- 

 sal opposition from the river districts, and any attempt to enforce their 

 provisions meant a fight either legal or physical, perhaps both. How- 

 ever, as time wore on it became apparent that the campaign of educa- 

 tion, and the object lesson of decreased supply began to have the de- 

 sired effect, and the fish were given a chance to breed and deposit 

 their spawn and now have at least an equal fighting chance with every- 

 thing else in nature depending on the law of reproduction for the con- 

 tinuance of the species. 



The introduction of the carp and its adaptability to the waters of 

 Illinois has been dwelt on so often as to be an old story. They came, 

 multiplied, proved good citizens and were taken into account as one 

 of the assets of the waters, and have practically taken the place of the 

 almost extinct buffalo. 



A better understanding of the conditions and requirements neces- 

 sary to the best results among the more thoughtful men engaged in the 

 fishing industry has enabled us, finally, to get better laws upon our 

 statutes, though we still find many who consider all fish public prop- 

 erty subject to private demand at any time and in any way, regard- 

 less of the future, or the rights of others. The fact that the State 

 plants, protects and matures the crop without cost to the individual, 

 asking only that the crop be gathered in accordance with its reason- 

 able regulations and limitations, seems to be lightly appreciated and 

 its right to protect the property so produced from universal and wan- 

 ton waste is either questioned or ignored. This State of Illinois is 

 of vast extent, and it is almost surrounded by water subject to such 

 diversity of conditions as to make it difficult to form laws that will do 

 equal justice to all. For instance what would properly protect such 

 regions as the Fox Lake locality might work hardship to the extreme 

 southern portions of the State. Yet our laws must treat all sections 

 alike, without discrimination, hence is it not strange if seeming hard- 

 ship to some results. Taken as a whole, however, we have now a fair 

 law upon our books, and with proper officers to enforce it the inter- 

 ests of all should be fairly well protected. 



A reduction of the required mesh of seines was a step in the right 

 direction, as it seemed to be demanded in order that the fishermen 

 could take the bull-heads, a fish that finds ready sale, and not be pro- 

 hibited by the size limit also for the taking of the gars which infest our 

 water, and which, from their construction could not be held by a 

 seine of two inch mesh. Under our law fishermen are required to 



