the Kankakee river. So, from all parts of the State, an increase in all varieties of native fish, the product of our planting, has been reported. In the absence of statistics, it is very difficult, of course, to determine just what ratio of increase has been attained, as adverse seasons, the taking of fish by unlawful means, and the renewed interest which seems to have been taken in rod and line fishing, during the last few years, have all conspired to decrease the annual supply. Some idea of the effect the use of rod and line may have upon the general supply through the State, may be gained from facts which have come under our personal observation and knowledge. At Quincy, Illinois, in the bay back of the C., B. & Q. stock yards, the water is quite deep, and lying there all season have been a number of sunken flat boats and barges. In ten days time, there were taken from that one point, over ten thousand fish. It has been no unusual thing to see strings of 35 to 50 white bass and wall-eyed pike, to one angler, the fish being, too, of good size. This state of things is, however, new to that locality. It has been estimated that, in early spring, five hundred fishermen could have been counted in one day, upon the river and bay front, at, above and below Quincy, and, as a general thing, all successful in their catches. We have been able to gain some idea of the growth and increase in native fish, by observation of the results in the inland ponds stocked by the commission. Taking the results of their culture in ponds, we may form some estimate of what the increase would be in streams, where all the natural conditions would seem even more favorable, as there would be the natural supply of food, and the proper conditions present, for the deposit of the spawn, and the feeding and caring for the fry. We will cite a few instances of the results in ponds planted by the commission: At Lanesville, eighteen miles east of Springfield, upon a farm owned by Mr. F. K. Whittemore, of Springfield, the Wabash R. R. Co. built a reservoir, by making an embankment across a natural ravine, which, by backing up the water about one-half mile, caused the formation of a lake of about eight acres area, being about six feet deep at deepest point, and running out to nothing at upper end and sides. This, Mr. Whittemore, who reserved the fishing and boating privileges, provided at its outlet, which was through a culvert, with a wire screen, and obtained of our commission a few tanks of native fish, and some carp fry. This was in the fall of 1882 and spring of 1883. In the summer of 1887, which, as we have before noted, was an extraordinarily hot and dry one, the water became very low, partly from evaporation and partly from the use of it by railroad company, and fearing that fish would be lost, Mr. Whittemore decided to take them out. Sending over a gang of our men, with seine, we undertook to take them out, and transfer them. This we found impracticable, however, as the number and size were so great that it would have been impossible to procure transportation for them, and so they were taken in quantities by people living about there. We took from the lake at that time, black bass weighing 33 pounds, croppie weighing 1 pounds and carp weighing 7 pounds. These were weighed and on exhibition at the Leland Hotel, Springfield. We were informed that afterward, the lake ultimately drying up, a great number of bass were taken out, which were much larger than those above mentioned. The size and quantity of fish taken from this lake show that in still water, fed by tile and surface drainage, native fish not only grow rapidly, but increase in numbers to such an extent as to seem almost incredible. The following statement from Mr. Wilkinson, division superintendent Illinois Central R. R., regarding a plant of fish made in the Clinton reservoir of the Central R. R. at about the same time as the first-named instance, will serve to illustrate further the fabulous growth and increase attained in the inland waters: ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY, S. P. Bartlett, Esq., Secretary Fish Commission, Quincy, Illinois: During the summer of 1887, the water getting low in the reservoir, owing to the general drought, it was thought best to take the fish out. The result was simply astonishing. From my best recollection the fish that were planted there not to exceed three to three and half years previous, had individually attained a remarkable size, besides being in great quantity. I should estimate that we took out not less than two thousand pounds in drawing a seine through the pond, which is some eight hundred feet long and an average of say one hundred feet wide. The water seemed to be fairly alive with all varieties and sizes of fish, and I was much astonished to find a great quantity of black bass in excellent condition; they run in weight from four and one-half pounds down to two pounds. The German carp, of which there was a large number, 1an in weight from seven pounds to fourteen and one-half pounds. The other varieties of fish ran in about the same proportion, but I was impressed that the black bass had more than maintained their relative position in point of growth. Therefore it would appear that if such quantities of fish can be grown in an artificial water reservoir, it can be regarded as a splendid result and at once recommends itself to the thoughtful as an example of the solution of the problem of providing cheap food, and it seems to me that any farmer has it in his power to enjoy a fish diet without expense. The propagation of the German carp seems to be entirely successful. I distributed several of this fish, weighing from twelve to fifteen pounds, and the report of those who partook of them was favorable. Properly cooked, they are a very wholesome and nutritious article of diet. It gives me great pleasure to testify to the entire success of fish culture so far as it has come under my observation, and I consider it due to you, to advise you as above. Respectfully, WM. WILKINSON, Division Superintendent. Also the following letter from Hon. John M. Pearson, of Godfrey, Ill., which is to the same effect: GODFREY, LLL., June 6, 1888. DEAR SIR-I feel like writing you a fish letter. Last Friday I took fifty croppie out of my little pond, of about one pound weight each. About two weeks since, after the heavy rain, the railroad pond here (which you stocked), overflowed. and the boys found fish in the field below that weighed 182, 18, 16% and 6 pounds. The weight of the big ones was increased by spawn, which, in one instance, weighed 6% pounds. [Signed.] * JOHN M. PEARSON. * With such facts as the foregoing before us, it is but fair to presume that the growth and increase of the fish, planted by us in the rivers and lakes, the natural homes and breeding places of the native fish, would be much greater than in the still waters of artificial ponds. And from the distribution this season of thous ands of fish which will, at the opening of next season, be ready to begin their work of reproduction in the waters which are their natural homes, and under the conditions natural to their habits, we may hope for marked and encouraging results. It would seem to us, to be the most practical and economical method of propagation and distribution possible. And as the question is not now, nor has it been for years, one of experiment, but a fact demonstrated by an increase in the supply in every portion of the State, we fully believe that, with better facilities for our work, and proper protection for the fish, it can not be long before our State will be, as it was originally, one of the best in the Union for fish. DISTRIBUTION OF NATIVE FISH. The fish distributed in our inland streams and lakes, are such as are gathered from the sloughs and holes along the Mississippi River, left there by the receding waters, and if not so cared for, would perish in countless numbers each season. They are gathered by means of small-meshed seines. Such as are not used for distribution, are put into nearest deep water. When men are not occupied in gathering for distribution, their time is utilized in rescuing the fish from these drying holes, and putting them in the river. The fish gathered are, in the main, of the varieties named below, and are native to Illinois waters, The following are the varieties found: Big mouthed Black Bass, Small mouthed Black Bass, Croppie, pale; Croppie, black; Wall-eyed Pike, Pickerel, Pike, Striped Bass, White Bass, Yellow Bass, Ringed Perch, Spotted Catfish, Channel Catfish, White Perch, Sun Fishes, Buffalo. With these, however, there are more or less of the Hickory Shad and the Minnow family, which are as essential to a successful planting of fish, as the better varieties themselves, furnishing food for the latter, being prolific breeders, and adapting themselves to the waters of the State, equally as well as the others. Of the varieties enumerated, the Pickerel, Wall-eyed Pike, and Ringed Perch, have been plenty only of late years, plants of them having been made throughout the State, and in the Mississippi river in 1881, 1882, 1883, and at various times since. The spawn of the Wall-eyed Pike was obtained at Green Lake, Wis., and hatched artificially. The Pickerel and Ringed Perch having been brought from Lake Michigan, Lake Geneva and Green Lake as spawners. Ringed Perch, in season of 1887 were very plentiful, being taken in very large numbers when seining the small ponds for fish, but this season have, so far, proved to be scarce. Wall-eyed Pike and Silver Bass predominated early in the season, greater quantities of the young being taken, than in any previous season, which, as noted before, was true as regards the mature fish. The We used, in distribution, cars No. 1 and 2, of the United States Fish Commission. Car No. 1, in charge of Newton Simmons, and car No. 2 in charge of W. A. Dunnington, and the whole work under the supervision of Geo. H. H. Moore, Superintendent Distribution United States Commission. The cars were those used by the United States Commission in their distribution of Shad and White fish. They are similar in size to a large passenger coach, and are fitted up with reservoir tanks, for carrying water, ice, etc., in main body of car, the tanks extending along each side. Into these were placed, for our distribution, boxes holding from 80 to 100 gallons of water, and these carried the fish for distribution. Each car had a crew of four men, and a cook. The cars were provided with air brakes, and were, in every respect, first-class. The fish were gathered by gangs of men with seines, and put into a large flat boat, 25 feet long by eight feet wide and four feet deep, arranged so as to form a live box when necessary, or could be used as a flat-boat when in tow of steamer. A steamer of about five tons burthen, was used to shove the barge up or down stream, towing the small boats and crews and towing the barge or live box, back to port when filled with the fish. When boat was landed at wharf, the gates were closed and box pumped out, and the fish transferred in carriers to the car. This was attached to a passenger train and taken to its point of destination. The crew of car by use of dippers, aerating the water constantly, until they were planted. Thus we have been enabled to place in every stream, crossed by the railroad over which we were transported, a good and sure supply of breeding fish, at a cost small in comparison with that of methods previously used by us, viz.: Transportation of fish in tanks, placed in baggage cars and in charge of messengers. The cars, when empty, were returned to Quincy by passenger train, again filled and the same process repeated. In this manner 26 trips were made. Each car load contained from 4,500 to 6,500 fish. These fish were from three inches to 14 inches in length, mainly mature or breeding fish. We consider the work of this season, in this branch, to be of more practical benefit than that of many previous seasons combined, as the fish were large enough to reproduce next spring, and in waters almost depleted by past unfavorable seasons, this will give at once a stock of greater numbers and under more favorable conditions than could have been accomplished by planting hundreds of thousands of young fry. That this method of rescuing and distributing native fishes originated by our commission, and carried on by us as for the past few years with such success, meets the approbation of the United States Commission, is evidenced by the fact that during the past season the United States Commissioner has had similar work done in several States under the direction of the United States Commission, and, we understand, intends devoting one branch of the Commission to this work in the future. We consider this a complimentary endorsement of our method, and appreciate it accordingly. CARP. Seven years have passed since the introduction of Carp into the State of Illinois,-two years since they were planted in public waters of the State, and a brief resume of what has been accomplished may not be without interest: When Carp were first proposed, there were but few, if any ponds in the State for the cultivation of fish, and the subject was considered as relating to the ornamental adjuncts to farm management. Few gave it any thought as a source of profit, or as a probable increase of the products of the farm. One by one began to consider the matter, and applications for the fish became frequent. Much was promised for them. In their natural home, in that thickly populated portion of the old world, Germany, they ranked among the fine fish. They were known to be hardy and prolific, accommodating themselves to almost any kind of water, and to almost any locality. As a result of such theories, a large proportion of those who early applied for Carp, put them into their stock ponds, or ponds to which stock was allowed free access, and left the fish to care for themselves. The result was, to some extent, unsatisfactory, as might have been expected. Such fish survived the freezing up of the pond in winter, and its drying out in summer, were not found to be of so fine a character as to flavor and general edible qualities, as had been expected. In other words, these experimenters had undertaken to obtain something for nothing, a result very difficult to attain in any business undertaking, and disappointment resulted. As the subject of fish culture, in ponds supplied by surface drainage, began to be better understood, ponds were built for their reception, alone, and at least as good a chance for existence and growth given them, as the average chicken or hog obtained, and results were, consequently, better. Until now, those who undertake to cultivate fish, do so with the understanding that good results only follow good care and proper appliances. as As a glance at the tables of carp distributed will show, the interest in their culture is far from abating, and the practical evidence on every hand tends to show the following facts, viz.: Carp can be successfully raised in inland lakes; that the percentage of profit from an acre of water is largely in excess of an acre of land with equal amount of care and expense; that carp are fully up to the average as an edible fish, if properly treated, and, in spite of adverse criticism, they still hold their own as a desirable adjunct to economic farming, as is shown by the large number of applicants filed this year to be supplied by our distribution of November next. In the proper place, in this report, will be found copies of some of the many letters we have received, from those who have obtained carp through our commission, bearing upon this subject. From estimates based upon the reports of those who have undertaken carp culture, it is safe to assume that, in this State last year, the product of carp ponds would be, at a small |