REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS. 



To His Excellency, Governor Richard J. Oglesby: 



We beg leave to submit herewith our report as Board of State 

 Fish Commissioners, from October 1, 1886, to September 30, 1888: 



Since our last report we have encountered adverse, as well as 

 favorable seasons, for our work. The high water early in 1887, 

 and continued high water in 1888, has afforded opportunity for 

 •demonstrating the flexibility of our methods, as well as the fact 

 that nature has provided ample means for re-stocking our streams 

 with fishes indigenous to them, without recoiirse to artificial means 

 of re-production. In spring of 1887, the water was out of river 

 banks early, and as it quickly receded, left only the spawn to 

 hatch. As a consequence the pools, lakes, etc., were filled with 

 young fry only, when our work of taking them for distribution 

 commenced. But few mature fishes were found in the shallow 

 waters. The spring of 1888 opened with plenty of rain, and un- 

 usually high water, not only in the rivers, but in all the streams 

 throughout the State. The water in the Mississippi river going 

 over its banks early in the spring, and reaching the highest point,, 

 but one, known in forty years. An immense area of land was, of 

 course, submerged, and, as a consequence, every slough and hole 

 along its banks were filled, and the fishes, seeking spawning 

 grounds, filled them to repletion. 



With this immense quantity of the product of the overflowed 

 ponds available, we desired to utilize as nearly as possible the sup- 

 ply, having had some correspondence with the United States Com- 

 missioner on the subject of native fish distribution, and knowing 

 him to be greatly interested in the work, we applied to him for 

 assistance. He responded by placing at our disposal the use of 

 two of the United States Fish Commission cars, with their respect- 

 ive crews, for the purpose of making our distribution. But, 

 owing to the continued high stage of water, which on July 15 was 

 still ten feet above low water, we found that the bass, croppies 

 and other native fish, instead of depositing their spawn and going 

 back at once, as is the case where water recedes quickly, had taken 

 advantage of the situation and remained until their young were of 



