10 



We regret to say that in some localities, it is imi^ossible to secure 

 a conviction, no matter how flagrant the violation may be. In one 

 instance we found the justice in sympathy with the defendant, and 

 openly asserting that protection is a farce, and that people should be 

 allowed to take fish as they choose. We frequently have difficulty to 

 get the State's attorney to i^iosecute: apparently he fears he may 

 offend some of his constituents by enforcing the law. The Attorney 

 General has ruled that all violations must be prosecuted by the State. 

 We are sometimes at the mercy of officers who are not in sympathy 

 with our work, and in such cases we-are almost certain to fail to bring 

 the guilty to justice. We would suggest that the law be amended so 

 as to give every constable and deputy sheriff' authority to make arrests 

 for violations and to receive the entire fine after case has gone 

 through the proper channel. This provision will stimulate all officers 

 in authority to interest themselves in the protection of fish, and ob- 

 viate the necessity of sending regular wardens in localities where 

 j)rejudice against outside interference exists. With an amendment 

 covering the suggestion made herein, and with sincere cooperation of 

 the sportsmen of the State, there will be no difficulty in reducing the 

 violators to the minimum, and restoring the depleted lakes and rivers 

 to their primitive condition. 



In 1899 the Legislature wisely enacted a law regulating the catch- 

 ing and shipping of fish, making it a misdemeanor to ship them un- 

 less they were marked as specified by law. All packages containing 

 fish shall be labeled in plain letters on the addressed side of the 

 IDackage, so as to disclose the fact that the package contains fish, and 

 stating kind of fish contained therein. The object of this amendment 

 was to prevent dealers from shipj)ing the different species that were 

 prohibited by law. Bass for instance is a prohibited fish, and can 

 only be taken in the waters of Illinois by hook and line. The reason 

 for this is that 85 per cent of the fish taken in our waters are of the 

 coarse varieties, such as carp, buffalo, dog-fish and gar. The remain- 

 ing 15 per cent are classed as fine fish. The coarser varieties are 

 taken exclusively for commercial purposes, and are the means of sup- 

 porting thousands of people living along the Illinois and Mississippi 

 rivers. These fish are shipped to New York in 150 pound boxes, 

 marked, for example, "Illinois River Carp," and are esteemed very 

 highly. A more detailed account of this industry is described under 

 another head in this report. The 15 per cent referred to consists of 

 bass, croppies and sun-fish. While there is no law protecting any of 

 these species, except the bass and pike, the sizes of other species 

 named are regulated so that no immature fish of any other varieties 

 are allowed to be shipped. The express companies and other com- 

 mon carriers have manifested a disposition all along to cooperate with 

 us in the enforcement of this measure, and have notified their agents 

 throughout the State to refuse all packages not projierly marked. It 

 is rare to find a package in transit now that is not labeled according 

 to law. 



The amendment passed and approved in 1899, which reads as fol- 

 lows: "That it shall be unlawful for any person to set or cause to be 

 set or used in the waters of Lake Michigan within a quarter of a mile 



