2(; 



Commissions, and altogether by the U. S. Commission. By its use 

 we could transport larger quantities of fish longer distances and 

 with a smaller percentage of loss. A,8 it now is, we are dependent 

 on the l)aggage cars of the passenger trains, and find them too 

 often crowded with their own work, which we cannot expect them 

 to neglect for ours. The State of Missouri has built for its Com- 

 mission a car that meets the requirements, 9nd has proven admirable 

 for such use, they having adopted the methods used by us in taking 

 and distributing the young native fish. Our office and storage 

 accommodations have become inadequate to our needs. Some years 

 ago we built a small cabin boat for our ofltice and the storage of 

 our appliances, boats, etc. But this, besides being too small for 

 our increased work, is now worn out, and* we need a new and 

 larger office boat. Our records and accumulation of books and 

 documents, in their way valuable, require better protection, and a 

 safe is much needed in the office for their deposit. Our appliances 

 rapidly \Aear out, and we shall have to replenish largely another 

 season. The office work has become in itpelf quite a large under- 

 taking, as the great numl)er of letters now on file will amply prove. 

 The letters for the montbs of November and December of last year 

 aggregated about four thousand. This was occasioned largely by 

 the demands of the carp distribution. 



During tlie year we arranged with the Fair Association at Cen- 

 tralia for the use of a portion of their grounds for a carp pond, 

 where, under the supervision of Major Breuning, of our board, we 

 expect to propagate carp for distribution throughout that portion of 

 the State. We have l)uilt a small pond and stocked it with large 

 carp, and hope to be able to report favorable results from that 

 source. We expect to improve and enlarge the pond as necessities 

 seem to require, and to add to the number from time to time, be- 

 lieving as we do that there is enough merit in the carp to warrant 

 additional effort to propagate a supply sufficient to stock all of our 

 streams and lakes with them. In relation to amendments in the 

 existing laws, we would say that we think the law regarding fish- 

 ways should be so amended as to increase the penalties for viola- 

 tion, and to provide that it be made a part of the duties of the 

 various State's Attorneys to prosecute cases of neglect or failure to 

 comply with the law in their counties. We think that the Commis- 

 sion should be allowed at least sufficient limit in the expenditure of 

 the appropriation to provide for reimbursement of all absolute ex- 

 penditure of any commissioner^while engaged in such duties relating 

 to the enforcement of the law as maj be found necessary — in fact, 

 while engaged in any of the necessary work of the Commission. 



The fish law should be so amended as to give the needed pro- 

 tection and simplify the making of proof of violation of the law, so 

 that those whose duty it may be to enforce it may have a reason- 

 able prospect of obtaining conviction. There should be some per- 

 son or persons appointed to whom should be delegated authority to 

 look after enforcement of the existing laws, and funds be provided 

 to compensate them for such work. These are the most urgent 

 needs. We beg leave to submit them, and trust that so far as in 

 the judgment of our representatives they are not at variance with 



