5 
forward end, with storage room for our oars, seins and such valu- 
able property as we have to care for. 
We have also a covered storage boat in which are stored our tanks, 
smaller boats, cans, ete. 
We have also found it necessary to have a quarter boat, in which 
one of our men lives, to protect our property, fish in live boxes, ete. 
We have been caused a great deal of trouble by lawless persons 
who have destroyed everything they could belonging to the Commis- 
sion. They burned our cabin in bottoms inside of Sny Levee two 
years ago. They cut up and destroyed one of our most valuable 
seines, destroying, at the same time, cans and other appurtenances 
in camp, and during the past season, broke into our office—then 
in rather insecure quarters,—and burned and destroyed a large por- 
tion of our papers, records and vouchers, entailing considerable loss 
on Commissioners direct, as in several instances it was ‘impossible 
to procure other vouchers for those destroyed,—the men engaged in 
the work being a roving class as a rule, here to-day, to-morrow 
gone again. In view of these facts we have arranged good and secure 
quarters at a comparatively small expense. We have taken out 
policies on office boat for $600; on storage boat for $200. 
The office work of the Commission has assumed large proportions, 
and is constantly increasing, which is, of course, but natural, con- 
sidering the large number of applicants for carp, aside from the 
distribution of native fish. Some idea may be had of the volume 
of correspondence, when we state that during the months of October 
and November of last year, the letters and postal cards averaged 
over 900 per month, the carp distribution being then near at hand. 
This season it promises to be very much larger, as the number of ap- 
plicants has materially increased. We have endeavored to give each 
letter attention, and give all information asked for promptly and as 
fully as possible. 
We are using this season, for transporting young fish, a new tank 
device, that has enabled us to carry larger quantities of fish with 
same amount of water greater distances than formerly, and we have 
in view further improvements, that we hope will still further de- 
crease mortality of the fish in transit, as well as materially reduce 
the expense. 
POPULAR INTEREST. 
We have stated that the interest in fish protection and culture 
has largely increased in the year past. The following facts will 
serve to prove the truth of our statement to some extent: 
At Galesburg,* Knox county, an inland town, Mr. George Brown 
has constructed on his farm, one mile east of the city, a pond or 
lake covering an area of six or seven acres, at an estimated cost of 
$15,000, built expressly for culture of native fish. The water is ob- 
tained by drain tile and springs, and is a handsome sheet of water. 
The banks are protected by sheet piling, the roadway around lake 
graveled, banks covered with a growth of grass. A miniature steamer 
has been placed on the lake. ‘The citizens all seem interested, and, 
as they have reason to be, proud of the enterprise and liberality of 
their respected citizen. ‘This lake has been stocked with black bass 
by the Commission. 
