fields for angling as are produced in the country, and while we may 

 have failed in judgment at times, we have earnestly endeavored to do 

 our best with what we had to do with, and we have been liVjerally 

 dealt with. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



In making our distribution of fish especial attention is first paid to 

 public waters, then to large bodies of water open to the public, al- 

 though i3rof)erty of municipalities or corporations, then large reser- 

 voirs or ponds fitted for such purpose, and then to private ajjplicants 

 who have proper jjonds for their reception. 



The extent of our distribution depends largely on the season. If a 

 favorable one, that is, if water in rivers has been high enough to over- 

 flow their banks and remain so through spawning season, the supply 

 is large and of such a character usually that if not gathered by our 

 crews, they would perish during the season by reason of drying up or 

 freezing out. 



The bulk of our distribution is made by cans carried in baggage 

 cars on passenger trains. The railroad companies have as a rule per- 

 formed such service free of charge. The fish are always accomi:)anied 

 by a messenger who aerates while en route, and does not leave them 

 until he has planted them. Usually we have the use of the U. S. 

 Fish Commission cars and crews to make our general distribution to 

 private applicants, serving usually forty to sixty applicants with each 

 trip. The car and crew are placed at our disposal by the V. S. Fish 

 Commission without expense. The V. S. Commission, with whom 

 we co-operate in every way we can, have been very liberal with Illi- 

 nois as, in fact, they are to all states in the Union. They have the 

 most favorable reports from plants so made and in all parts of the 

 State increase has been noted, and if we can properly care for such 

 waters by proper protection, there is no doubt but that the normal 

 conditions, usual to waters originally, will again be reached, and there 

 is no reason why it should not be so, discounting only the fact that in- 

 creased population produced a corresponding increase in the angler 

 and that is in itself a great drain on natural resources, but that is 

 what fish are planted for, to use and should be used untler jiroper reg- 

 ulation. We want to say a word as to supplying private applicants. 



While it is not the province of the State to use its property to di- 

 rectly benefit the individiial, yet when supply is siitficient. no better 

 use of it can be made than to plant fish, and if the individual has 

 proper water for them, than to recognize the interest he takes in the 

 matter. But failures are so frequent in pond fish culture, we have 

 thought it i3ractical to offer a few suggestions. 



Water is the first reijuisite. your stock next. Black bass are almost 

 universally called for by parties having ponds. This is a grave mis- 

 take. But few ponds already constructed are fitted for successful 

 pond cultun> of black bass, because they are so destructive to other 

 fishes and themselves that it becomes principally a "survival of the 

 fittest"", unless you have pond large enough and with natural food 



