any considerable amount, their increase is naturally enormous, aau^'if 

 left unmolested nature would assert herself in some way to diminish 

 the supply, either by disease or by freezing or drying up the waters, 

 thus bringing about a proper balance. For instance, the Grerman 

 carp at full maturity will deposit from 100,000 to 300,000 eggs. 

 Now, should any considerable percentage of these arrive at maturity 

 the waters would soon become overstocked; but comparatively few, 

 however, are productive of fry, and such as are being preyed upon 

 by voracious fish, only a small percentage escape, still enough remain 

 so that if left undisturbed they would soon fill the water to repletion, 

 and these fish should be taken by some means and utilized for food. 

 The product of the waters should be gathered for the use of the peo- 

 ple as certainly as the grain is gathered from the fields, and to do 

 this appliances must be used that will take them in quantities suffi- 

 cient to make it a business, giving employment to both capital and 

 labor. Such an industry is best seen in this State along the Illinois 

 river, although good results are shown in various parts of the State 

 elsewhere. This commercial interest is a large one and imjjortant. 

 not only from a pecuniary standpoint, but from a hygienic one as 

 well. Fish as food in some form or other finds its place on the tables 

 of both rich and poor, almost every day of the week, the finer varie- 

 ties as a delicacy for the rich, the cheaper and coarser as necessary 

 food for the poor. 



We submit herewith a statement of the association for the two 

 years ending January 1, 1698, that of 1897 showing a very decided 

 increase over that of 1896, and so far the year ending January 1, 

 1898, gives promise of an even greater increase if the present rate of 

 catch is maintained. 



