26 
La Salle County north of the Illinois River; J. W. Clifton, Streator, 
Putnam and that part of La Salle County south of the Illinois River. 
In August, 1913, Rock River, which flows wholly within this 
district, was set aside as a fish preserve, being the first stream in the 
State to be made a preserve. As to the result, it has met the approval 
of the people not only of this district but so much so that other waters 
have since been set aside. 
The main tributaries of the Rock River, which are also fish pre- 
serves, are the Kishwaukee, Pecatonica and Green Rivers, Many 
small creeks also connect, which afford fine bass fishing. Pike are 
also found. This year shows a big increase in the crappie, which 
makes good pole fishing; catfish are plenty, but owing to the fact that 
no seining is allowed in preserves, the carp and buffalo are getting 
very thick and will need attention this fall. 
Several lakes, sloughs and ponds in the western part of Whiteside, 
Carroll and Jo Daviess Counties along the Mississippi have also been 
set aside as preserves. It has proven satisfactory in that vicinity also. 
A small part of the Fox River, which runs through La Salle County, 
has recently been placed into a fish preserve. With all these preserves: 
and the Mississippi River on the west side, and the Illinois River in 
La Salle County, which are commercial streams, the entire attention of 
the deputies is needed during open waters. When the waters are 
closed or frozen, the hunting then requires their attention the balance 
of the year. 
As to the increase, will say that there is a gain in the game fish 
in the district. As to the commercial, it is about the same as other 
years. 
During the year a lot of rescue work has been done. Ponds and 
overflows were seined out and the fish placed in streams, thus saving 
hundreds of thousands of small fish that would have perished during 
the winter and through the drought in the fall. 
The deputies in ‘this district not only have the respect of the law- 
abiding hunters and fishers, but also the commercial fisherman, and 
former violators, as they are aware that we now have a law and that 
law is to be enforced. 
Prairie chicken and quail show an increase over last year, but I 
think we would have had a much larger increase had it not been for 
the wet season, which drowned out many nests. Quail may be found 
in every county in the district, but chickens are mostly in the south 
and western part of the district. ' 
Very few waterfowl hatch in the district. We have a small part 
of the Illinois River, but it is a little too far north for hatching. All 
we have is the flight and a very few shore birds. 
All the pheasants we have are the few that have been sent in 
here. They don’t seem to do very well here. I think there is too 
much open field here for them. Plenty of squirrel and rabbits here, 
about the same as last year, but the elimination of ferrets will increase 
the rabbits next year. This change seems to meet the approval of the 
people. 
With the law we have now there is no reason, if enforced, why 
there should not be a remarkable increase in both fish and birds in the 
next few years. 
