23 



Now, wp do not wish to be understood as in any way antagonistic 

 to the angler element, or as dealing with their sjxjrt as a matter of 

 sentiment only. We believe in the protection of the game Hshes and 

 in their development, but as one cannot well change nature's laws, 

 and in the waters of Illinois it is impossible to raise game Hshes 

 exclusively or in such numbers as to make them sufficient for the 

 necessary supply for food, why is it not economy to encourage the 

 coarse tish. which while producing good food and plenty of it, will fill 

 the waters to the Hunt of their capacity? 



With us carp are not spawn eaters, but do destroy vegetation, and 

 as stated, are detrimental to clear lakes and rivers, but they get into 

 them and we are doing the best we can to relieve the situation in 

 that respect, as will ajDpear by another section of this report. 

 Immense catches of carp are reported for the season of 1904. all 

 along the Illinois river. Bass are more plentiful than ever. This 

 seems to speak for itself as to results. 



TURTLES. 



It is time to call a halt as to the indiscriminate taking of turtles for 

 market. The time was when they were killed and thrown out on the 

 bank as fast as taken in the seine or net. considered absolutely worth- 

 less by the fishermen. Gradually they became of value imtil a good 

 market was found for all of them. 



The last session of the (xeneral Assembly, on recommendation, 

 added the size limit to our law regulating sizes of fish, etc.. to be 

 offered for sale. But along same lines formerly prevalent with the 

 taking of coarse fish they are now taken at all seasons of the year and 

 the supply is rapidly decreasing. They should be protected by a 

 close season, which together with size limit now in force, would pro- 

 tect and insure against complete extinction. 



The common slider now finds ready sale in all large cities and 

 brought in competition, in a way, with the terrapin of the east. 



Illinois Exhibit at Louisiana Purchase Exposition. 



The officers of Louisiana Purchase Exhibit erected a building de- 

 voted to forestry, fish and game and invited all states to join in an 

 exhibit of live fish, fishing apparatus, etc.. Illinois with the rest; ap- 

 propriations varying from SIO.OOO.OO to $25.000.(X) were made by 

 several states for that purpose. 



Your commissioners, however, feeling that as the U. S. Fish Com- 

 mission was contemplating a building especially fitted for a live fish 

 display and as the State Commission was cooiXTating with them in 

 their general work, it would only be fair that anything we could offer 

 to do for the furtherance of such purpose would be only fair and 

 equitable. 



Mr. Ravenel. the U. S. Fish Commission's representative on the 

 Government Board of Control, courteously offered us the use of three 

 of their fixed aquaria and im^xised the following conditions. That 

 we. the Illinois Commission, were to make an exhibit of the commer- 



