Nat Cohen, Esq., President Fish Commission, Urhana, III.: 



Dear Sir — I make a report of what I have done along the lake and at Ore- 

 gon. In June Glynn and myself cleaned np the lake front from Fifty- fifth 

 street to Randolph street. We cut down and destroyed about 275 nets and 

 derricks and made six (6) arrests. Beside this I have taken thirty (30) nets 

 along the river. On August 17th I went to Oregon. I was there twelve days 

 and made eight (8) arrests. They were tried by jury, the jury disagreeing. 

 The cases were continued for ten (10) days, and when they were called again 

 the State's attorney thought the best way was to dismiss them and have them 

 come up before the grand jury. When the grand jury met they were in- 

 dicted, but when the court was called it held that it had no jurisdiction; so 

 in that case they will have to come before the Supreme Court. My expenses 

 for the three trips to Oregon were about $88.00. 1 went to Waukegan and 

 located the fishermen there, and went there again in company with Palmer. 

 We waited until they came in with their nets. Captain Smith of the fishing 

 tug Elcie Nell was the first to arrive. We examined his nets and found them 

 all small mesh, and the same with Captain Nelson of the tug Hannah Sulli- 

 van. We then told them what we were there for. They said they had taken 

 up all their trout nets and were fishing for nothing but perch and herring. I 

 went down again on the 15th and examined their boats and fish, but found no 

 trout or white fish. On the 17th Palmer and I went there again and found 

 the fishing tug Ewig, from Port Washington, Captain Ewig in command. We 

 examined his boat and fish, but found nothing but herring. On the 18th I 

 went to Kenosha, but found nothing there. All the fishermen along the lake 

 seemed to be glad to have the law enforced, and also to have the law the same 

 as in the other two states. Total expenses for those trips were $28.05. 



Yours truly, 



Geo. Kleinman. - 



report of fish warden george r. ratto, chicago. ill. 



The report herewith is only partial. Mr. Ratto died on . 



Number of arrests, 21, 



Number of convictions, 17. 



Amount of fees collected, $210.00. 



Jail sentences, 7. 



I have taken and delivered to the various charitable institutions of Chicago 

 17,000 of small fish, and enclose herewith reeept for the same, 



2o the Hon. N. H. Cohen, President Illinois Fish Commission, Urbana, III.: 



I herewith submit my annual report as fish warden as follows: I received 

 my commission as fish warden on the 11th day of April, 1902. On the 15th 

 day of April, 1902, I began special work in the enforcement of the net law, 

 commonly known as the closed season. I found the fishermen as a rule 

 willing to abice by the law aid removed their nets until June 1, 1902. Owing 

 to a large territory and the law being new, it was near the 1st of May before 

 all the nets were out, after which I confiscated ten nets anc turned them 

 over to Georgf Hofif, sneriff of Mason county. 



There bas been no seining here in the Illinois river owing to high water, 

 the stage of the water breaking all records, consequently I have had but 

 very little trouole from that point. The most trouble I have had is from the 

 shipment from small or under sized fish and the use of dynamite. I have 

 now in my possession evidence of the above which I believe will result in the 

 arrest and conviction of the violators. There has been some complaint of 

 open violations of all law in the extreme south end of Mason county, and it 

 seems to me nearly impossible to reach the violators without a warden at 

 Browning, where the fish are sold. With a good man at that point, I think 

 the laws could be well enforced. 



The above report I most respectfully submit. 



E. E. Caldwell, 



Warden, 



