139 
waters that once contained a good quantity of good fish are now practi- 
cally depleted because of polution. 
The commission has given considerable attention to this matter, but 
so far has not been able to put an end to the evil. 
Manufacturers have gotten into the habit of turning into the 
streams poisonous waste from their factories and seem to regard it as 
something of an infringement on their rights when they have been 
notified that they must stop killing our fish with their poisonous refuse 
matter. 
Some of the manufacturers with whom this matter has been 
taken up have shown a disposition to do something to prevent their 
poisonous waste from getting into the water and killing the fish. 
The custom has prevailed so long that there is sure to be consider- 
able difficulty in stopping the continued polution of our fish waters. 
However, the commission has not despaired of making ¢ a great improve- 
ment over the present bad condition. 
The matter of working a permanent change in the present custom 
of poluting our fish waters, rests largely with the River and Harbor 
Commission, who can do much to end the evil of polution as it now 
exists. 
It might be added that our great Lake Michigan would be a source 
of much food were it not for the fact that its waters are poluted by 
manufacturing establishments along its shores, 
from the city of Chicago. 
FRESH-WATER FISHERIES DATA FOR 1908. 
From United States Census of 1910. 
and the other refuse 
Value. 
To To 
United | Llinois 
States State. 
Fresh-water fishes (excluding salmon 
and shad, and including sturgeon 
from Mississippi River and Great 
Lakes division)— ; 
WettbOd ie bAUeS eS. oes 2. 25s oeideim as SOR 946720015 toate aes Sern evomn 
EMR OMS UALOs.,toscte, ae ose e-io 8s Suse 1, 033, 700 SOLS ale eee 
MR OMe Ee Lyla crtaieiean we a cenine close *721, 000 0 10 0 70 
Mississippi River System....-.-...-- DES TINS OOM earns ree leer a 
GRCE UR LAICOS aie tits dears Sata sielsie As BY OOF 300) Sect no ames. ecreccp seer 
Carp— 
WOmahed(Stabes's. 2+ wscce-sitc cece ae we piel Oe OOo eects (eee ents 
HSM OIS; ba LGs somes coor ee erect Se 574, 000 SOOO bee see 
TSN OISER LV Or soe cS ae eae - “412, 000 0 36 0 72 
Mississippi River System.....-....- 858, 000 On 754 ee eaters = 
(Cine hal Weal Gales See eR ele Seer ae 194 AOD | Bree coe ees eile caret ts 
Mussel product— 
Wii tOdUS CALeSas seemeae aeons ek eS $6925 O00" jaccmetee ee alte ae. see 
HR OISNELALC coo: sack series ss ace 354, 000 SOLD Te neces 
URN OISeR viene we ssas motrin 139" 000: | Reeeees ses: $0 39 
Mississippi River System....-...... 686, 000 OLO0 er nan 
CUPGACAK OS. 3 cacao c alas Shaan SOOM Sass ed alee oe 
Ratios. 
To 
Illinois 
River. 
To Missis- 
sippi 
River 
system. 
*Includes miscellaneous (frogs, turtles, etc.) 
To Great 
Lakes. 
