REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS. 



To His ExceUency, John R. Tanner, Governor: 



VVe beg leave to submit herewith our report as Board of Fisli Com- 

 missioners for the two years ending September 30, 1898: 



The work of the commission, so far as the collection and distribu- 

 tion of fishes is concerned, has been prosecuted along the same lines 

 as in previous years. A decided increase is reported in the number 

 of game or finer varieties of fishes found in the inland streams and 

 lakes, while on the large rivers and lakes the increase in these varie- 

 ties, as well as in the coarser varieties of food fishes have been very 

 large. Heretofore, we have had no opportunity of arriving at any 

 definite or accurate calculation as to just what increase there had 

 been in the output of fish, from a commercial standpoint, except from 

 general observation that fish were plentier. Now, we have an annual 

 report from the Fisherman's Association giving us the amount of 

 fish bought, taken and sold at twenty- two points on the Illinois river. 



This association is composed of the fishermen and fish dealers 

 along the Illinois river, and has a membership of over one thousand. 

 A very large amount of capital is employed, and the business as a 

 whole is one of great importance, particularly to the various towns 

 along the river, many of them depending almost entirely on the fish- 

 ing industry for their maintenance. 



The report referred to is made to the secretary of the association, 

 each individual or firm buying or catching fish for the market send- 

 ing in an accurate statement of business done, and the whole showing 

 exactly what amount of money fish bring to the people. 



A glance at these reports will disclose some remarkable facts, prob- 

 ably known to comparatively few, or at least seldom given to the 

 public. Eighty-five per cent of the whole number of fish taken is of 

 the coarser varieties, such as carp, buffalo, catfish, suckers, white 

 perch, etc.. while the black bass represents only one-half of one per 

 cent of the whole amount sold or offered for sale in 189S. This 

 showing demonstrates a fact known to those who have followed up 

 the life habits of fishes, viz: that untler natural conditions in the 

 rivers and lakes tributary to the Illinois river, eighty-five per cent of 

 the whole number found must necessarily be of the coarser varieties 

 in order to furnish the essential amount of food for the carnivorous 

 varieties, as under such conditions this relative percentage always 

 exists. The coarser fishes can not be taken with hook and line to 



