into the net. These wings are frequently hundrels of feet in 

 length, and the result is that almost every tish coming into them 

 follows them down until led into the net. Frequently two or 

 more hoop nets are used at the end of wings, and from the center 

 a "lead" is placed, running from the mouth of the hoop net 

 straight ahead, equi-distant from the two wings, and forming 

 another obstruction, against which the fish striking are guided into 

 the net. 



The pound net, while not used very extensively in smaller rivers, 

 is used with deadly effect in the larger ones. It consists of a 

 large, square, stationary net, so placed as to make an enclosure. 



Hood net, baited — these nets are made, as before stated, like a 

 quail net, but used with bait, as a lure. They do not have wings 

 or lead, and form but slight obstruction to the passage of fisli 

 unless placed close together. They are baited and the fish are 

 attracted to them by the bait only; attached to a float, they are 

 raised and emptied of their catch, and then lowered again for 

 further work. 



Of all the devices used by the fishermen the basket is, perhaps, 

 the most destructive to small fish. They are made of strips ot* 

 oak, usually from three and one-half to five feet in length, and 

 from one foot to eighteen inches in diameter, nailed on hoops, 

 with openings between strips of not more than one-half to three- 

 fourths of an inch. Inside is plaaed a funnel-shaped row of strips; 

 these baskets are placed beside each other frequentlj'^ by the 

 hundred, and as the openings are small, fish of all sizes, and 

 especially those which frequent the bottom of the stream, such as 

 the spotted cat-fish, are readily taken. It has not been an unusual 

 sight to see the small flat boats, used by fishermen as seine boats, 

 full of small fish, the largest not weighing half a pound, brought 

 to market. 



All the devices mentioned above are stationary and depend on 

 the run of fish for success in taking them. All, with the possible 

 exception of the bait net, are decided obstructions to the free pas- 

 sage of fish, and should be the subject of such legislation as would 

 leave no doubt regarding the right to use them. 



The seine, commonly used, is a matter that is largely governed 

 by locality and the flexibility of the conscience of the fishermen. 

 The law says a lawful seine shall have a mesh two inches square. 

 The average fisherman uses just as small a mesh as he can, gov- 

 erned mostly by conditions and surroundings. 



On the Illinois river seines from 100 yards, one inch mesh, to 

 1,000 yards, one and one-fourtii inch mesh, may be found, and to 

 the extensive use of such appliances is due the decrease in the 

 buffalo fish, once the principal commercial fish. In the early 

 spring, when driven into bays and pockets by the movement of 

 the ice, or during early spawning or rolling season, they are found 

 congregated in great numbers and are easy victims to the seine. 

 Frequently the tishermen club together, "splice their rigs," that is 

 put their seines together, and then divide the catch. It is a 



