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The black bass is a very hardy game fish of great commercial value. 
Our market supply at present comes from other states, as under the 
present law the black bass of our waters are not a commercial fish. 
With a moderate amount of artificial help, the black bass will mul- 
tiply very rapidly. In suitable ponds a great quantity of these fish may 
be raised and sold at a good price. 
There are a few streams in the State where brook trout and rainbow 
trout may be privately bred with profit. These streams are so few that 
it is hardly worth while for the State to undertake trout culture. Where 
trout hatching is undertaken in a private way in our State, the owners 
can well afford to increase the supply of cold water by opening up 
springs or wells. 
Most of the trout that are found on the Chicago market came from 
the private trout hatcheries of Wisconsin and Michigan. It would seem 
to be the part of wisdom to encourage the private breeding of these fish 
im our State, making use, as far as possible, of what water there is in 
the State suited to the propagation of these fish. 
An objection might be raised to the encouragement of private 
hatcheries and fish ponds on the ground that it would give the game and 
fish conservation much trouble to keep the commercial fish breeders 
within the law. 
If we are to regard the department as an organization run largely 
in its own interest, the objection would hold good, but if we look upon 
the department as a creation that exists for the benefit of the public, 
then the greater amount of service rendered the people, the better does 
the department fulfill its proper function. 
It will give the department additional work to look after private 
hatcheries and ponds. It will also add to the cost of maintaining the 
department. But the revenue received from hcensing such private enter- 
prise would more than pay the cost of their supervision by the depart- 
ment. 
Regulations for these private fish hatcheries and ponds would 
necessarily need to be so liberal that the business would not be hampered. 
Such liberal regulations would make it possible for the private fish 
breeder to violate our general fish laws. But it is not to be supposed 
that business men of fair judgment are going to take great risks for 
small gain. As the books of such fish breeders, and their hatcheries and 
ponds would be open to the inspection of the department, the owners 
would not go far with their violations without being caught. The fine 
for violation by these fish breeders could be made so heavy that the 
small gain to be made by violating the law would not be worth the risk. 
In order to make these private fisheries successful and a credit to 
the State, it would be necessary for the department to give the fish 
breeders some assistance in the way of instructions in the selection of 
waters and the best method of construction and maintenance. More- 
over, it would be necessary for the department to aid the fish breeder in 
stocking his pond. All this the department is prepared to do at a small 
expense to the breeder; enough to cover the department’s cost. 
