19 



As will be readily understood these "shut ofiPs" as a rule are along 

 the river on either side at some distance from the towns, and not 

 easily reached in any other way than by a boat of some kind. To 

 meet this contingency we have used, for the past fifteen years, a boat 

 of some kind, originally a very small propeller pushing a small barge. 

 This was found to be altogether too small and a larger boat was pur- 

 chased. 



The steamer Lotus has been used now for the past eight years, 

 and during the early season has patrolled the Illinois River remov- 

 ing such obstructions as mentioned, and given the enforcement of 

 the law a general supervision. The demand, however, for a more ex- 

 tended service, brought about by the greatly increased interest in 

 fish protection and propogation, will make it necessary to give that 

 part of the rivers and water frontage not included on the Illinois 

 River, a share of our attention, the Illinois River having nearly 

 monopolized our work in the past. The Lotus, while giving good 

 service on the Illinois River, can not be used successfully on the 

 MississipiDi River, as the current is swift and the power of the boat 

 too light to give it proper speed. The Illinois River now has about 

 two hundred and fifty miles of frontage out of over a thousand in the 

 State. The Mississippi has four hundred railes and scattered all 

 along are considerable fishing interests, its bottoms, wide in places, 

 filled with great lakes, all preyed upon by the same class of men men- 

 tioned on the Illinois River, and this territory should have the over- 

 sight of the Commission and an effort be made to enforce there, as 

 elsewhere, the protective laws. 



As before stated, and for the reasons given, this can not be done 

 unless we can use a larger, more powerful and swifter boat than the 

 Lotus. We should be prepared to cover two hundred miles in twelve 

 hours when necessary. Another and equally as important a reason 

 for the use of a larger boat is that in collecting for distribution we 

 can only carry a few thousand fish for any length of time with our 

 present boat, as we are forced to place our tanks which are used in 

 connection with our circulating apparatus on the outerguards of the 

 boat and the space is quite limited. 



On the Lotus every available space is utilized for some purpose, 

 but with a boat of proper size and capacity it would be great enough 

 to carry at one time the collections for a week or more. 



This would enable us to work quickly the overflows which need 

 immediate attention. As it is, we must collect for the day, and then 

 run in and distribute our collection. 



The Lotus now has lived the ordinary life of a steamboat, and 

 while we have kept her iip in good order, it has been at considerable 

 yearly expense, which if it could be saved would go far towards pay- 

 ing for a larger boat. In the present condition of the boat we can 

 work only the Illinois River. 



The Lotus went into commission on March 1st 1897 and laid up at 

 Havana, Illinois, December 3d 1897. In season of 1898. she went 

 into commission March Kith. During the two years the boat has 

 covered every portion of the river proper and every lake and slough 



