8 



taken and sold. Our attention was called to the rapid increase in 

 this practice, which originated in the catching of bait to sell to ang- 

 lers, but had grown into a regular traffic in small fish for market, 

 and we directed our efforts to the abolishment of the nets Warden 

 Ratto, acting under our orders, first posted a notice on each standard 

 holding up the hoisting apparatus, to the effect that the use of the 

 dip net was contrary to law, and stating that unless the nets were 

 removed by the owners by a stated time they would be taken down 

 and turned over to the sheriff, as prescribed by law. He followed 

 this by a personal warning whenever the owners could be found, 

 but very little attention was paid to the warning by the owners. 

 Warden Ratto, with the assistance of a squad of policeman kindly 

 furnished by the Chief of Police of Chicago, then sawed off all the 

 uprights, took down the nets and turned them over to the sheriff, 

 clearing up the entire lake front. After the death of Warden Ratto 

 this work was taken up by Warden George W. Glynn and the lake 

 front has been kept practically clear of these nets. 



A prominent railroad official who was interested in the work in- 

 formed your Commissioners that the fatalities to men and boys cross- 

 ing the tracks had been materially lessened since the abolition of 

 this practice, as those engaged in the work would take chances from 

 moving trains for a short cut to and from their nets, and the number 

 killed in this way had been large, although every precaution had 

 been taken by the management of his road to keep them off their 

 right of way. 



ENFORCEMENT OP THE LAW. 



The problem as to how best to enforce the law for the preservation 

 and protection of fish in a State covering as much territory as does 

 Illinois is a difficult one to solve, with the methods and means at our 

 command. When the present conditions are compared with those of 

 the earlier days of protective legislation we find much cause for con- 

 gratulation, but, when the vast area is critically considered, we find 

 that much work still remains to be done before anything like a satis- 

 factory state of affairs can exist. 



The increase in the output of coarse fish on our principal rivers 

 exemplifies what can be done, but there we can better control 

 violations. 



The small streams and lakes and the ponds of local fishermen are 

 subject, at all times, to the poacher, and are soon depleted by unlaw- 

 ful methods. To those locally interested must of necessity be dele- 

 gated very much of the work of enforcing the law. True, the law 

 provides each county with a fish warden, and in some counties enough 

 local pride is manifested to keep down violations, but in a majority 

 of cases we have found that with wardens the law is very poorly en- 

 forced, if at all. 



There are several reasons for this. As elsewhere stated, no man 

 cares to incur the enmity of his neighbors by a rigorous prosecution 



