18 
We shall use every effort possible to ascertain first the best and 
most economical fishway that can be used, for we do not care to 
foist upon any of our business interests an unnecessary’ expens@ 
nor to do them an injury; but when such fishway shall be found, 
we must insist upon a full compliance with the law, for without a 
free and unobstructed course for our fish up and down our streams 
our work, when done as best we can, is without practical results. 
A number of owners of dams have constructed fishways over thei 
dams; a number of others have signified their intention of doing so 
and we feel confident that all will, when the matter is properly pu 
before them, avoid any unnecessary litigation and do what they ca 1 
to further the work of your Commissioners. 
¥ 
FISH LAWS. 
i 
Next to the propagation and distribution of the young native fish, 
one of the most important features in the work, if not the mos 
important, is proper laws for the protection of fish. 
As our laws now stand, they are not such as will accomplish th 
end to be desired. They were framed and passed at a time whe 
the interest in fish culture and protection was really confined t 
what may be classed as the sportsmen element, the lovers of ro 
and line, and when they were placed on our statute books it wa 
after considerable opposition. 
But now, the case is different. ‘The matter of a supply of fish 1 
our waters has passed from one of mere sporting interest, to a seri 
ous question of food supply. 
It is useless for the State to spend money in repopulating ou 
streams unless the laws of our State, regulating their protection 
can be made operative, and protection afforded. 
Thirty years ago, every stream, lake and tributary in this State 
one of the best in the Union so far as natural homes for fish 4 
concerned, was filled with fish. The angler or farmer could obtai 
without much effort, all the fish needed. As the State has fillet 
up, catching fish for market was made a business, seemingly neces 
sitated by the growing demand, until now we find our waters almos 
depleted of varieties once common and plenty. Within the las 
fifteen years it was of very common occurrence to see large fis] 
offered, in our river towns, at prices so low that a poor man coul 
obtain for a few cents all that he could use. Now, the coarsest fis] 
we have has become a luxury, selling at from 6 to 10 cents { 
pound, according to locality and supply. 
Ten million pounds of the buffalo fish have found their way int 
market, from the waters of our State, ina single year. It has bee 
stated to your Commission that 400,000 pounds were taken in | 
single day by one gang of men on Illinois River. The rivers a 
lined with fish boats and rigs, and the constant drain and_ whole¢ 
sale slaughter is simply immense, and is fast telling on the fis 
supply. In the great lakes, the same result is noted. Where but) 
few years ago the whitefish were very plenty—all know of -the im 
mense trade the lake’ fish have furnished,—to-day‘they are not onl 
