20 



more than could be done by endeavoring to awaken an interest 

 among the fish clubs of the State, and we are pleased to note a 

 )i amber of convictions through the efforts of such cJubs. The C. B. 

 & Q. Piod and Gun Club have, through tbeir efforts, made it ex- 

 tremely unpleasant 'or those violating the laws along the C. B. & Q. 

 K. K. from Aurora to Chicago, as will be seen by the letter sub- 

 mitted herewith : 



NAPEEvri-LE, III.. May 1. 188*;. 



Hon. H, p. Baktlett. Sfrri'tanj Fish Commissio/i. Qniney. III.: 



Dear Sir— The following sliows we are yet ali%o : "A number of dip-net llshermen set- 

 tliil tliiir lulls with Justif-e i)ill.- till' other (liiy, and have <-ome to the conclusion that fish 

 cau{,'ht tliat way come too hiirli fur iirofit. Th'-re were so maov reports of llsh being causht 

 with nets that the C. B. & Q. Hod and Gun Club delej^atcd one of their number to pro.secute 

 anybody and everybody engaeod in violatins the law." This cost them S12.50 per head; it 

 came high. Please send me a few copies of the new law. 



Vours respectfully, 



WILLIAM P. WKIGHT. 



At Quincy Mr, J. C. Pipino, who was appointed game warden 

 under an act passed at the last session of the General Assembly, 

 has given a great deal of attention to the violations of the tish 

 laws, and has procured a number of convictions, the effect of which 

 has been that, with few e ceptions, the law relating to the use of 

 the seine, in that vicinity, has been generally observed. 



The principal difficulty in enforcing the laws has been encoun- 

 tered along the greater rivers of the State, and the lakes and 

 sloughs adjacent and tributary to them. The smaller and interior 

 streams have been better protecter] by a more general enforcement 

 of the laws, and, in our opinion, it is that portion of the State re- 

 moved from the greater rivers which needs ' the greatest protection, 

 as their means of replenishing depleted streams must depend largely 

 upon the efforts of the Fish Commission ; and, while the drain upon 

 these larger rivers is immen.=e. still the opportunities for replenish- 

 ment are more favorable than for the smaller inland waters, they 

 having direct communication with that great source of fish supply, 

 the Mississippi River, and for the most part practically without ob- 

 struction by (lams. While, m reviewing the work of enforcing the 

 protective laws, we find much left to be accomplished before results 

 €iin be called satisfactory, still we think, taking the whole State 

 over, that much more has been accomplished in that direction dur- 

 ing this season than any previous one. The people seem to be 

 gradually awakening to the fact that an indiscriminate use of seine 

 and net is and has been having a disastrous effect upon the natural 

 supply of the waters, and that the law was not put upon the books 

 jas an ornament simply, but to be used for a good purpose, 

 namely, to protect an important food-producing supply. The time 

 has passed in this country when the product of our waters can be 

 considered the property of any one for the taking at any time. The 

 Supreme Court has said that fish are the property of the sovereign, 

 or the people, and that as such their representatives have "a right 

 to say how they shall be taken. Other States have made effective 

 and successful prohibitory laws so far as the use of the seine, net 

 and spear are concerned, and the results in an increased supply 

 have convinced even the fishermen themselves of the value of such 

 legislation. We know that it is urged by some that propjigation is 

 better than protection, and while this may be true of the great 



