17 



sportsmen to take their outinii^ on the Illinois or otlior fishing resorts 

 in which the State abounds. 



Statistics would be hard to make, showing even approximately just 

 what the revenue from this source is. but that it is large there can 

 be no doubt. Men come to fish and have an outing and spend their 

 money. Our people get it, and both are satisfied. 



The Commissioners of Fish and Game of the State of Maine made 

 a coinputation of what Maine's game and fish preserves bring to that 

 state yearly, and estimate the amount at $3,000,000 as money spent 

 by visiting sportsmen in railroad fares, hotel bills, camp supplies, 

 guides and the necessary expenses. This revenue is said to exceed 

 the total receipts of the Maine summer resorts. 



The fish sought by the men who come as anglers, the black bass, 

 are only caught by the market fishermen to the extent of less than 

 one per cent of all the fish taken. 



In the northern portions of the State, at Fox Lake and lakes in 

 Lake county, and in a number of places along the Mississipj)i, such 

 resorts are well patronized. 



BEARING PONDS AT URBANA. 



As the eastern portion of the State has not had as general attention 

 as some of the other sections, it was thought advisable to establish a 

 rearing or receiving pond somewhere centrally located on the eastern 

 side of the State. After considerable investigation on the part of 

 your commission, through the efforts of President Cohen, it was 

 made possible to obtain the control and use of a beautiful pond at 

 Urbana. 



The pond is fed by springs and describes a complete circle, about 

 60 feet wide and 1,200 feet long, with an island in the center. The 

 pond was carefully dredged, making it of good depth, and was filled 

 with clear cold water, and complete, is an ideal home for such fish as 

 would breed naturally there, and a storage or rearing pond for such 

 collections as are intended for distribution along the eastern portion 

 of the State. The advantage of this will be readily seen in time 

 saved, in transportation and the expense attendant, besides the time 

 saved as between Meredosia and the eastern portion of the State. 



After the pond was placed in order it was thoroughly stocked and 

 has produced for this season, 1898, a number of thousands of bass 

 and croppie which have been planted in the rivers near by. 



Just what would have been accomplished we cannot say, as just at 

 the time when the fry of the croppie and the bass began to show up 

 in great quantities, a cloud-burst occurred which fiooded the whole 

 valley in which the pond is located, and our loss of fish was great, as 

 thousands of the young must have been forced out. 



-2 F. C. 



