41 



The pvejutliee apfainst the carp here at home does not apply abroad. la- 

 stead of carp being: unfit to eat, scavengers living' off anythins: and every- 

 thinf^:, devouring the spawn of fine fish, etc., they are a fish of fair flavor for 

 eating purposes, do not eat other than vegetable matter, such as grass, flag 

 roots, moss, etc., and never eat the spawn of other fish as the black bass 

 does. Often I heard it said that the carp are driving fine fish out of the 

 river. This is also far from the truth as the carp lives in harmony with all 

 kinds of fine fish. The only fish that does not seem to like the carp is the 

 buffalo, and that is because carp are too lively for them and they can not 

 stand the jumping about of the carp, but if the buffalo have become scarcer 

 we have their cousin, the carp, to take its place. 



In our dealings with our customers since the buffalo have become scarce, 

 in filling our dressed fish orders, we have had to substitute carp for buffalo 

 very often. At first there was great complaint and orders often read, 

 "Don't send me carp if you have no buffalo." We kept on, however, substi- 

 tuting, and now many of the dealers who were so strongly prejudiced against 

 carp order buffalo or carp, and many have written us to the effect that the 

 people like them since they have given them a trial. 



In summing up this carp question it can be truthfully said that the general 

 opinion of the public on the question is purely imagination and has no 

 foundation in fact and the best evidence of this is the w^onderful demand for 

 Illinois River carp from eastern markets where they are sold for Illinois 

 River carp and not canned as "salmon," as many people believe. 



Most respectfully yours. 



M. D. Hurley, 



President Illinois Fishermen'' s Association. 



Established 1893. 



JOHN A. SCHULTE, 

 dealer in 

 Fish, Game, Terrapin. Etc. 



Havana, III., December 21, 1898. 

 S. P. Bartlett, Superintendent Fish Commission, Qnincy, III. 



Dear Sir: — You ask me as to crop of German carp and my opinion of 

 their value. 



As to the crop of young carp this season, will say that thei'e is an enor- 

 mous lot of them, and by next August they will be good marketable fish, 

 weighing from three to five pounds each. 



The Fish Commission did a nice thing when they introduced the German 

 carp in Illinois River. Carp are in great demand and a ready sale. There is 

 more demand for German carp than for all other fish taken from our rivers 

 combined. 



From the information I get, as an official of the Illinois River Fishermen's 

 Association, from all points along the river the carp have brought more 

 money than the catch of all othwr of our fishes combined. Long live the carp. 



Yours respectfully, 



John A. Schulte, 



M. D. Hurley, President, Peoria. 



John Schulte, Treasurer, Havana, 



Alex Sargeant Seeretanj, Bath. 



The Illinois Fishermen's Association. 



Bath, III., November 30, 1897. 

 Capt. S. P. Bartlett, Superintendent Fish Commission, Quinci/, III. 



Dear Sir: — I have been quite frequently asked my opinion in regard to 

 the closed law for seining on the Illinois River, and I have no hesitancy in 



