Early in 1926 we started tagging fishes with a hundred 
aluminum tags furnished by the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries. No 
further tagging was done until the summer of 1929 when we changed 
to tags made of non-corrosive metal in two sizes—the so-called 
No. 2's and No. 3's. These tags bore a serial number on one side 
and the letters INHS, for Illinois Natural History Survey, on the 
other. In the course of four seasons of field work, 1929-1932, 
7,000 fishes have been tagged as a part of aquatic surveys and 
fisheries research covering the more important waters of the 
state. The fishes were usually tagged and released near the spot 
where they were caught, although occasionally they were released 
a few miles away. The localities in Illinois where fishes were 
tagged are indicated in Fig. l., p. 4. 
In order to secure returns from these tagged fishes 
placards showing an illustration of a fish with a tag attached and 
worded as follows were posted at places where fishing licenses 
are sold, boat yards, sportsmen's hotels, fish market boats, 
resorts, etc.: 
WATCH FOR TAGGED FISH 
The migration and growth of important 
kinds of Illinois fishes are being studied by 
marking them with small metal tags clamped to 
the. upper side of the tail fin. These tags have 
a number on one side and INHS on the other. 
Bass, crappies, blue gills, sunfish, wall- 
eyed pike, pickerel, sheepshead, channel cat, 
mud cat, bullheads, carp, buffalo, redhorse, 
suckers, etc., have been tagged in many parts 
of Illinois. Records have been kept showing 
the exact kind, weight, length, tag number, and 
the place and date that each fish was tagged 
and released. 
We invite fishermen to cooperate by re- 
turning the tags and about 10 scales from the 
middle of the left side of the fish to the 
NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY 
URBANA, ILLINOIS 
with information showing the body of water and 
exact location where the fish was taken, and 
if possible, the weight and length. 
If desired, the tag will be returned with 
information showing how far the fish had 
traveled and how much it had grown since it 
was originally tagged. 
