17 



The matter was then left in abeyance for some days, when upon 

 June 22nd the following letter was received from the Association, 

 through their attorney, Hon. S. A. French. 



Chicaqo, July 7, 1888. 

 8. P. 71ar/lett,Es(/., Quinnj, I/li7}ois: 



Dear Sir— I received your telegram, but have not received any letter explaining delay as indi- 

 cated by te I ei^rain. At :i mi'i>tins ot the Pish and Game Association the enclosed paper was unani- 

 mously approved, and a fund was raised sufhcient to carry out tlie purposes of the Association. 



The ])etition, or rather demand, has been siixned by a few of our leading members, and if it 

 would be considered any niore emphatic or have any greater effect, the signatures of every person in- 

 terested in the object of the association can be obtained in a short time. 



As it is thought to bo desirable that this matter should be promptly brought to your notice, and 

 as I am now uncertain when I shall see you here, I am instructed to forward you this demand and 

 guarantee bv mail, and I herewith enclose for your consideration the same. Personally, and as your 

 warm friend and well wisher I will say to you that these people mean business, and that I consider 

 it to your best interests as I have before indicated to give heed to their request, and take immediate 

 and prompt action. 



Trusting I may see you at an early day, I am. 



Yours truly, 



S. A. FRENCH, 

 Attorney for Association. 



Chicago, Illinois, June 21, 1888. 



To the Board of Fish. Commissioners of the State of Illinois : 



Gentlemen— We, the undersigned citizens and residents of the State of Illinois, hereby call 

 your attention to paragraphs two and three, of section one, chapter iifty-six, of the revised statutes 

 of this State, being an act approved June 29, 1885, and in force July 1, 1885, which is as follows, 

 to-wit : 



"That no person shall place, or cause to be placed or erected any seine, net, weir, fish dam or 

 other obstruction in, or across any of the rivers, creeks, streams, ponds, lakes, sloughs, bayous, or 

 other water courses wholly within this State, or in that part of such stream or water course wholly 

 within this State, in such manner as shall obstruct the free passage of fish up and down or through 

 such water courses, and that it shall be unlawful for any person to catch or take fish, except 

 minnows for bait, with any device other than a hook or line or spear, within one-half mile of 

 any dam constructed across any of the rivers or creeks of this State. 



"2. That it shall be the duty of any person or persons who now own or hereafter may erect 

 any dam or other obstruction across any of the rivers, creeks, streams, bayous or other water courses 

 within this State, to place therein suitable fish-ways in order that the free passage of fish up and 

 down may not be obstructed. A failure to perform this duty for thirty days after the passage of this 

 act shall be deemed a violation of this section, and a failure to perform such duty for eacn fifteen 

 days thereafter, shall constitute a separate offence." 



We further call your attention to paragraphs two and three, chapter 56, of said statutes, being 

 an act approved May 21, 1887, in force July 1, 1887. 



"That no person shall place, or cause to be placed or erected, any seine, weir, net, fish dam or 

 other oDstruction in or across any of the rivers, creeks, streams, ponds, lakes, sloughs, bayous, or 

 other water courses wholly within this State, in such manner as shall obstruct the free passage of 

 fish up and down or through such water courses, and that it shall be unlawful for any person to 

 catch or take fish, except minnows for bait, with any devise other than a hook and line within one- 

 half mile of any dam constructed across any of the rivers or creeks of this State. 



"3. That it shall be the duty of any person or persons who now own, or hereafter may erect 

 any dam or other obstruction across any of the rivers, creeks, streams, bayous, or other water 

 courses within this State to place therein suitable fish-ways, in order that the free passage of fish up 

 and down such waters may not be ohstuu'ted; and in case the owners, operators, lessors, or other 

 persons operating, usin.n or controlling any dam or other obstruction across any of the rivers, creeks, 

 streams, bayous, or other water courses of this State, shall fail or refuse after ten days' notice by the 

 Fish Commissioners of this State, or any one of them, to construct and maintain suitable fish-ways 

 as provided in this act, then the P'ish Commissioners may construct or cause to be constructed suita- 

 ble fish-ways and recover in action of debt in the name of the people of the State of Illinois, before 

 any justice of the peace, or before any court of competent jurisdiction, double the cost of construct- 

 iuL' said fish-ways; said fund in excess of the actual cost, shall be paid to the county superintendent 

 of schools." 



And in this connection to notify you that unlawful dams have been constructed and now exist 

 across Vox river in this State, at thefoUowing points, viz: at Dayton, Yorkville, Oswego, Aurora, 

 Batavia, Geneva. Elirin, South Elgin, St. Charles, Carpentersville, Algonquin, and elsewhere, and 

 that none of said dams are provided with snitablo fish-ways as provided by law. 



You will further take notice, that under the common construction of the language of above pro- 

 visions as held by the courts of this State upon the above facts being brought to your notice, it be- 

 comes your duty to immediately serve upon the offending owners of said dams, a notice as jirovided 

 by law to ciinstruct proper fish-ways in said dams, and on their failure so to do within the 

 statutory period, to proceed to consli uct the same, and to collect from the owners of such dams the 

 cost thereof with statutory penalty. 



R C.-2 



