16 



With this as the situation, the people along Fox river and Fox 

 lake, becoming impatient at delay of dam owners to put in fish- 

 ways, formed themselves into a cori^oration known as the Fox 

 Kiver Fisli and Game Association, and made a demand upon the 

 commissioners to enforce the law, in the following letter: 



THE FOX KIVER FISH AND GAME ASSOCIATION. 



^' CuiCAoo, March 26, 1888. 



To the Fish Commission of the State of Illinois. 



Gentlemen:— At a meeting of the Fox River Fish and Game Association, held at the Sherman 

 House, Feb. 17, 1888, on motion of Hon. John P. Reynolds, it was resolved that the President, 

 Secretary, and D. F. Barclay be a committee to notify the Fish Commissioners of the State of the 

 formation of this Association,— to call their attention lo the dams on Fox River having no fish- 

 ways, and to ask them to inform the committee what they consider to be suitable fishways under 

 the law, and to request them to see to the immediate enforcement of the laws of the State in this 

 respect. 



This Association was incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois, February 7, 1888, its 

 object being to aid in enforcing the Fish and Game Laws of the State. 



The committee finds that the dams mentioned below in Fox river have no fishwaye, and earneetly 

 hope that the Commissioners will compel the various owners to build suitable fishwaye in accord- 

 ance with the laws of the State. 



CHAS. F. HILLS. 

 JOHN WILKINSON. 

 D. F. BARCLAY. 



List of dams on Fox River unprovided with fishways, with names of owners : 



Dayton, owned by the State of Illinois. 



Yorkville, owned by M. B. Castle & Son. 



Oswego, owned by Wm. Parker. 



Montgomery, owned by Hoard & Bradford. 



Aurora, owned by J. G. Stolp and Hoyt Brothers. 



Batavia, owned by John Van Nortwick. 



Geneva, owned by Gates & Bennett. 



St. Charles, owned by Thomas and Robert Stewart. 



Clintonville, owned by O. Davidson. ^ 



Elgin, owned by Elgin Hydraulic Company, I. C. Towner, Secretary. 



Carpenterville, owned by Illinois Iron & Bolt Company. 



Algonquin, owned by George Peacock. 



In response to above communication, we met the officers of the 

 association, by appointment, in Chicago, about April 1st, 1888, and 

 the situation was explained to them. The matter of the appro- 

 priation of $2,000 for expense of Commission in enforcing the 

 laws relative to fishways, was brought up, and the question 

 asked, if that amount could not be used for such purposes. The 

 matter was referred to Hon. W. H. Henkle, Chief of Auditor's 

 office, for his opinion, which he gave as per following letter: 



St-vte of Illinois, 

 Office of the Auditor of PrBnc Accoctxts, 

 SruiNOFiELD, April 4, 1888. 



S. P. Barf left, Secretary State Fish Commission, Quincy, Illinois: 



Dear Sir— Yours of the 3d instant received. 



The appropriation to which you refer, is limited to the payment of the personal expenses of the 

 Commissioners or such personsas may be appointed by them, to act in the enforcement of the laws 

 relative to fishways, etc. 



No part of such appropriation could be properly used for the purpose of consjtrnction of fish- 

 ways, as inquired about. 



I will be pleased to see you when next in the city. 



Yours truly, 



W. H. HENKLE. 



