Lis 
REPORT OF STATE FISH CULTURIST. 
To the Game and Fish Commission: 
During the St year the fisheries branch of the department has 
been dey eloped as far as it has been possible to do so with the limited 
appropriation for that character of work. There was appropriated for 
improvements and maintenance $6,000 to be used in two years. Out 
of this sum, a two-acre rearing pond for black bass has been built, four 
cement trout ponds have been constructed, two wells have been dug for 
supplying the hatchery and trout ponds, shrubbery has been planted, 
grading done at the hatchery and miscellaneous improvements made. 
All this woik has been done at the Spring Grove plant, which stands as 
a State asset. Out of this appropriation $2,000 was set aside for the 
building of a retaining station at Savanna. Besides, there has been an 
addition made to the e juipment. There is still much work to be done 
in the way of auenen this plant. As much of this as it is possible 
to do with what is left of the appropriation will be done this vear. 
At this time we have an investment in the Spring Grove fisheries 
plant of about $16,000. From this comparatively small investment we 
are producing as many fish as the average fisheries plant that cost twice 
the sum. Our black bass product exceeds that of any other bass ponds 
in the country. Moreover, [linois is the only State in the Union that 
is able to send out black bass fingerlings and yearlings in any consid- 
erable numbers. ‘his is so because provisions have been made to hold 
fry in rearing ponds until they reach the fingerling and yearling stage. 
One rearing pond of two acres, especially constructed for rearing black 
bass, is so built that an abundance of natural food is supplied in the 
shallow water while there is a deep part in the pond where fish can 
find a good winter home. 
One important feature of this pond is the trap construction. This 
is so arranged that the fish may all be drawn into a cement trap by 
merely lowering the pond. From this tr ap they may be taken for ship- 
ment with a dip net, thus avoiding the expensive and unsatisfactory 
method of seining. 
Into this pond were deposited at hatching time fifty thousand fr 
from the large breeding pond. Some of these fish may be taken out this 
fall as fingerlings; the rest may be shipped in the spring as yearlings. 
Our pike perch hatch in the spring was not as satisfactory as we had 
hoped it would be. We were unable to catch any of our own fish for 
spawning, owing to the fact that our pike perch waters had been set 
aside as a fish preserve, and seine fishing prohibited for the season. We 
were compelled therefore to rely upon the Federal Bureau of Fisheries 
for our supply of pike perch eggs. The eggs received were for the most 
ONO 
