6 
have long since disappeared almost entirely from our rivers and the out- 
put of the commercial fishes would have decreased to a small percentage 
of what it is today. For every dollar expended in saving our fish, the 
people of the State profit fifty fold. | 
Within the last year a station has been erected at Havana, for the 
purpose of ‘artificially propagating pike perch, and kindred species, and . 
the results of this work have been beyond our expectations. It is the 
first attempt the State has made in hatching fishes, this work having 
been done heretofore entirely by the United States Bureau of Fisheries. 
Out of thirty million eggs delivered to us by the Government from 
Put-in-Bay, Ohio, over sixty per cent were fertilized and hatched. We 
are in hopes of showing a larger per cent of hatched fish next year, as 
we will then be better equipped. ‘The pike perch, commonly known as 
wall eyed pike, Jack-salmon, yellow pike, etc., is considered one of the 
most palatable fishes inhabiting our waters. It thrives better in larger 
rivers and lakes. The product from the station at Havana this year 
was deposited in Kankakee, Rock and Fox rivers and several of the 
Jakes in the northern part of the State. 
It is very necessary that a station be erected at Waukegan on Lake, 
Michigan to artificially propagate white fish and trout. An appropria- 
tion will be asked the next General Assembly for this purpose. The 
valuable species of food fishes are decreasing at an alarming rate from 
our lakes, and immediate steps should be taken to restore them. Wau- 
kegan is the most desirable spot on Lake Michigan to carry on this work. 
as the water conditions here are extremely favorable. The city council 
of that city has already granted us a site, and will furnish us the water 
for all operations. It is our intention to have spawn takers go out with 
each crew during season, take eggs from each ripe fish, fertilize them and 
return them to the station ready to hatch. At least one hundred million 
eges can be hatched out annually. 
‘The condition of Lake Michigan is much better for this line of work 
than formerly. Prior to the completion of the drainage canal the sewage 
and other refuse was drained into the lake through the Chicago river, 
polluting the water to such an extent that white fish and trout left that 
locality and went northward. When the river changed its course, carry- 
ing the pollution down the drainage canal, the lake resumed its natural 
condition, and the species gradually returned to their old haunts, and 
are now.reasonably abundant in the lower part of Lake Michigan. With - 
a rigid enforcement of the law and the production of young fish at the 
station mentioned the lake will again abound in this great food supply. 
The work at Havana could not have been accomplished, had it not 
been for the generous assistance of the National Bureau of Fisheries. 
It furnished us fertilized eggs, ready to hatch from its different stations. 
This department is doing great work and should be encouraged by. the 
Congressmen of Illinois, as it has distributed in this State alone, within 
the last year over twenty-five million fish. At this rate, with a like 
amount planted by the state hatcheries, this food supply, now threatened 
with total extinction, will be restored, at an expense infinitesimal, com- 
pared with the immense benefits achieved. A statement from the com- 
