And yet, even witli so huge ;i number of fish in possession, be- 

 yond any doubt taken in an ilfegal niannei", these parties can openly 

 dispose of tliem witbont fear of penalty, possession being, as we 

 have before stated, no proof of violation of tbe law. This is only 

 one of many instances wliich liave come under our notice. 



The use of the spear, as permitted by our hxw, was undoubtedly 

 an oversight. It sliould be prohibited under severe penalties. At 

 Fox Lake. Hnd, in fact, a number of places, an incredibly large 

 number of large and fine fish are taken thi-ough the ice annually 

 by its use. It is' not only destiuctive, but to our mmd its use is 

 nothing less than a lelic of barbarism. Mr. Lippincott, editor of 

 the "Fox Lake Muskelonge," writes us that the number of bass, 

 pickerel, etc., taken through the ice from Fox Lake with spears is 

 immense, aggregating thousands of pounds of fish daily. When the 

 fact is oonsideied that tbe lish so taken are on their producing 

 grounds, and at a time nearly approaching their spawning season, 

 and f]om one of the finest natural breeding grounds of the State, 

 some idea may be formed of the extent of the destruction. Again, 

 we think the penalties for violation of the law should be made 

 greater. It is almost impossible, even where ample procd's of viola- 

 tion are obtained — for there are sections where the violations are 

 open and flagrant — to get a fine assessed for more than the lowest 

 amount specified. 'IhiF, cf course, has no deterrent effect upon the 

 fishermen, who can well atford to pay a fiuB of $5 and cos's for the 

 privilege of making such catches as the one just mentioned. In 

 fact, in some localities they can aft'ord to pay a tine for each trip, 

 and still be largely the gainers by the transaction. We hope that a 

 careful consideration will be had, not only of the needs of the peo- 

 ple, but of those interested in fishing as a business as well, before 

 action is taken in the matter, and that the laws will be so amended 

 as to give to all that protection and proportionate benefit to which 

 they are equitably entitled. 



SUMMARY. 



Of .the practical success of the work in the past we can only take 

 such evidence as we have gathered, and our own observations, and 

 draw such conclusions as they seem to warrant. It has been 

 demonstrated to our satisfaction that the work is second to none in 

 value to the people of the Stafe in its possibilities, needing only 

 the means and the opportunities for developing 'hem. In a country 

 so rapidly filling up as this— in oar State already so well peopled — 

 cheap food is a desideratum. This can be met to no inconsiderable 

 extent, under proper conditions and protection, by the utilization of 

 the waste places of farm and valley in tli3 cons^raction of ponds 

 for the cultivdtioa of fisli, and by the improvement and protection 

 of the various wa^.ers of the State. Wcj have, in the main, had 

 very successful seasons "for O'lr work, and our distributions of native 

 fish have been satisfactory, l)at such seasons as the last, tlie phe- 

 nomenally hot weather and the long-continued drought, prove to 

 us the necessity for possessing better facilities for our work than 

 those now in use. In fact, the value of our work in any season 

 could be largely increased if the service could be properly equipped. 

 We need an aquarium car, such as is used in many of the State 



