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say rabbits 50 per cent, quails 40 per cent, prairie chickens 20 per cent and 
song birds are more numerous than for years. I attribute the increase partly 
to the ideal weather conditions, but I also recognize the great benefits of your 
department. 
I feel that we have been very fortunate in having one of our townsmen as 
one of the State commission. Mr. Blackman has been at all times more than 
willing to cooperate with our club, whose purpose has been to live up to the 
letter of the law, and by so working together, I believe there is as little viola- 
tion of law in the eastern part of the State as could be expected, and I feel 
that, within a very few years, all kinds of game as well as fish will be plen- 
tiful. I sincerely hope and trust that the game and fish protection of the 
State of Illinois will be carried on in the next four years in the same manner 
that it has in the last three years, regardless of politics. 
The sportsmen of the State as a whole, I am quite sure, are very well 
satisfied with the way your commission has been carrying on its noble work. 
I further wish to assure you that at any time I may be of any service 
to you or your department, I stand more than willing and ready to cooperate 
with you. 
I am requested to extend to your commission the best wishes and ¢o- 
operation of the Paris Gun Club. I remain, 
Most respectfully yours, 
ArT RISSER, 
Vice President of Parts Gungeing: 
CONDITIONS AND KINDS GAME, BIRDS AND FISH FODNDP: 
By request the several deputies of this district have made report of 
the conditions as they find them at the close of the year, June 30, 1916. 
The following are summaries of their reports: 
Livingston County. Deputy Whalen Reporting. Few prairie chickens in 
the eastern part of the county. Quails have increased some in all parts of the 
county. Water fowls, shore birds, pheasants are very scarce. Rabbits plen- 
tiful. Squirrels increasing in number along the Vermilion River where there 
is timber. The principal river is the Vermilion, in which are to be found 
carp, catfish, bass, crappie, and pickerel. The Vermilion River is a fish 
preserve, and the plan of restriction in the manner and time of taking fish 
therefrom is very popular with a large majority of people. ° 
Ford and Part of Livingston County. J.A.Heckelman Reporting. About 
the same number of prairie chickens as last year. Quails seem to be scarcer 
Rabbits plentiful. The setting aside of the Vermilion River as a fish preserve 
is popular among a large number of people, but there are a few who would 
like to be permitted to use seines and nets. Streams of this territory are 
sluggish and the fish are unfit to eat during the hot, dry summer months. 
Owing to the fact that there is a high dam at Pontiac, with no fishway in 
operation to permit fish to get up stream, there are fewer fish above the dam 
than below it. Squirrels are very plentiful where there is timber, but as 
there is very little timber in that territory, the total number is not very large. 
Song birds and insectivorous birds seem to be increasing. Several kinds have 
been seen here this year that have not been seen before. 
McLean County. P. J. Flanagan Reporting. Pheasants are not very 
numerous, although a small increase over last year. No prairie chickens to 
be found in the county. Quails have increased, farmers saying they have not 
seen so many in years past. Mourning doves on the increase, and very 
numerous. These birds are favorites and are not molested by sportsmen. 
There are no water fowls here except in the spring during migrating season. 
Song birds are well protected, many residents of cities and country build 
houses for the birds and provide watering places and scatter food for them. 
Rabbits are plentiful. Many farmers think there should be no closed season 
on rabbits. Squirrels plentiful, but no increase over last year. The streams 
and lakes that have been stocked with fish show great increase in fish. 
Macon and Dewitt Counties. S. A. Hdwards Reporting. Squirrels more 
plentiful. Doves very plentiful. Quails have increased and there are more 
