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sion—and when found, to set trammel net, or surround with seine. 
These nets and seines, thus used in the grass and weeds, soon be- 
come filled with burs, sticks, grass, etc., and upon this as well as 
the nets themselves can be found in countless numbers the eggs of 
the buffalo, so that aside from the taking of the old fish, the act of 
using the seine or net must of necessity destroy the spawn, which 
if left for nature to develop would give us hundreds of thousands 
of young fish to supply in part at least the loss occasioned by the 
wholesale slaughter of the buffalo in other directions—by wing-nets 
eso. nets, set-nets, traps, and the varied devices used to catch 
e fish. 
These reasons are presented to show why, in our opinion, our 
laws should be amended so as to prevent the use of the seine dur- 
ing the close season, and with such laws the work of your Commis- 
sion would be materially aided. But, in point of fact, the use of 
the seine or net during any season of the year should be prohibited, 
at least for a number of years. Along the Mississippi and Illinois 
Rivers particularly are found hundreds of beautiful lakes, subject to 
overflow when the rivers are over their banks, but land-locked al- 
most when the rivers recede. 
These lakes are generally well stocked with fish by the overflow, 
but the fishermen, after carefully cleaning out all obstructions—as 
is often done—can by one haul with a seine take everything, settling 
for the season all prospects of a “catch” with hook and line. 
This is not the case with one lake alone, but in every lake along 
the rivers is the process repeated. For eight months in the year 
our rivers, lakes and streams are subject to this piracy. With so 
many loopholes through which to escape, the fishermen as a class 
are bold and defiant, regarding any attempt to enforce the laws as 
an infringement on their rights. So much so is this the case, that 
out of the great number of complaints filed with the Commission, 
of parties violating the law, not one per cent. of the parties inform- 
ing consent to appear as witnesses, or allow their names to be used 
in any way in the matter. 
Towa has been the first of the Western States to pass laws pro- 
hibiting the use of seines and nets, and by the prompt and rigorous 
enforcement of them by her efficient Commissioner, Hon. A. W. 
Aldrich, has succeeded in placing the waters of that State on a foot- 
ing that may well be the envy of her sister States. Since April last 
Mr. Aldrich has caused to be destroyed 866 seines, and to-day has 
the State practically under control, so that every fish planted has at 
least a “fighting chance’ for its life. 
There is no State in the Union that has more advantages in.the 
matter of natural homes for fish than has Illinois. A glance at the 
map will show a State almost bounded by water—rivers and lakes 
—ifrom them, tributaries, and tributaries to tributaries, making a 
perfect net-work of streams, all fed by the Mississippi, acknowl- 
edged to be one of the finest streams for fish in the world. 
Your Commissioners would respectfully recommend the passage of 
new or amendment of old laws to afford such protection to our fish 
as they must have, if the successful and practical restocking of the 
waters be accomplished. Also, that it be made the duty of some 
