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REPORT OF FOURTH DISTRICT WARDEN. 
To the Game and Fish Commission: 
In submitting this report I first desire to commend the work of the 
men who have so faithfully cooperated with me during the past year. 
These men, twelve in number, have been constantly in the field, patrol- 
ling the territory assigned to Piet and are entitled to much radi for 
the. splendid results achieved. hey are at all times on the job; cour- 
teous to lawful hunters and accommodating to landowners, they have 
endeavored to create a sentiment for better protection of our game and 
birds. 
The Fourth District is composed of twenty counties of the central- 
eastern part of the State, the territory being generally known as “The 
Corn Belt.” The ereater portion of the land is cultivated, and each 
year there Becomes. less cover for the wild life in the fields and. less 
timber for protection of birds and animals which seek cover therein. 
As these conditions prevail it is so much more necessary that lovers 
of wild hfe bestir themselves in the matter of conservation of game 
and birds. Already we see much improvement in sentiment among 
the people for more conservation, a direct result from. our campaign of 
education and cooperation. 
During the past year our activities ines not been confined. wholly 
to the work of protecting what is known and termed as “game,” but to 
all kinds of wild life over which the Game and Fish Act of 1915 throws 
a protecting arm. ‘This particularly has reference to the protection of 
song birds. In our work along this line we have endeavored to co- 
operate with civic organizations, bird clubs and public schools, and when 
requested we hawe supplied a speaker to address audiences of such 
organizations. 
Since this department was organized several streams have been set 
aside as State fish preserves, among which are the following in this 
district: Embarrass, in the counties of Douglas, Coles and Cumber- 
land; Kaskaskia, in the counties of Champaign, Moultrie, Coles, Shelby 
and Fayette; Little Wabash, in the counties of Coles, Cumberland and 
Shelby; Sangamon, in the counties of Macon (above Decatur) and 
Dewitt; Vermilion in Livingston County. 
Because of the restriction of the use of seines, nets and all other 
devices and methods of taking fish in these streams, except with hooks 
and lines, the natural increase is fast supplying fish of all kinds for hook 
and line fishing. No longer is the man with a seine permitted to take 
and clean up from these waters all the fish, leaving nothing for those 
who delight to take them with hooks and lines, 
At first there were murmurings and complaints in some localities 
on account of the restrictions placed on the manner of taking fish in 
these streams, but as time passes and the people see and understand the 
ereat benefit derived from conserving. the supply, they are becoming 
reconciled to the plan of restriction. Many who were bitter in their 
opposition at first are now in hearty accord with the rules regulating 
taking fish from these preserves, and are giving us loyal support in the 
enforcement of, the law. 
