The Wisconsin Fish Commission was established in 1874, and consisted of three commissioners. This number was increased in 1878, to seven, composed of the governor, while in office, and six appointed by him.

There are two hatcheries in the state-one at "Nine Springs," four and a half mile south of Madison where brook trout, California rainbow trout and carp are raised, and one in the exposition building at Milwaukee, for hatching white-fish and wall-eyed pike.

Persons desirous of obtaining fry to stock streams and lakes will, by writing to either of the commissioners or to the superintendent, receive blank applications and full printed directions for planting. The law of 1882 prohibits the furnishing of fry, with the exception of carp, for private ponds.

Wisconsin

There is now an annual appropriation of $12,000 made to the commission. now leads all other states, in the distribution of trout, and is only excelled by Michigan in white-fish planting. The following distribution of fry has been made within the past two years.

There are three fish wardens in the state, each having charge of a particular section of the Wisconsin shores along the Great Lakes. District No. 1, is Lake Michigan from the Illinois-Wisconsin state line north to Ahnapee; No. 2, is from Ahnapee to the islands in waters of Green Bay; No. 3, is Lake Superior within the confines of Wisconsin. From the reports of the wardens, the following summary is presented, of the extent of the Wisconsin fishing industry on the Great Lakes, from 1885 to 1888, inclusive, showing that there is a steady advance in the extent and profits of this important enterprise, largely induced by the work of the state fish commission in liberally stocking the lakes with fry:

WHEN MAY BE CAUGHT, TAKEN OR KILLED, 1889-1891.

GAME.

Woodcock..

Aug. 1, to Dec. 15

Quail, partridge, pheasant, prairie hen or prairie chicken, grouse of

any variety, plover or squirrel......

Aug. 1, to Dec. 15

Snipe, wild duck of any variety, wild goose or brant of any variety or

MISCELLANEOUS STATE SOCIETIES.

The following associations and societies are not under the control of the state government, but are given here as a matter of information and reference. Some of them have been encouraged by annual appropriations from the state, while the transactions of some of the associations have been published by the state. The State Historical Society is the corporate trustee of the state, and the governor, secretary of state and state treasurer are ex-officio members of its managing board.

Executive Committee - The president, vice presidents, corresponding secretary, recording secretary, treasurer, librarian and life directors, with thirty-six curators; and ex-officio, the governor, secretary of state and state treasurer.

The State Historical Society of Wisconsin was originally organized in October, 1846, with A. Hyatt Smith as president, and Thos. W. Sutherland as secretary. In January, 1849, there was a reorganization, with Governor Nelson Dewey as president, a list of vice presidents covering all the counties of the state, and I. A. Lapham as corresponding secretary. But for various reasons the society did not prosper during its early years and a second reorganization was effected under an act of legislature approved March, 1853. This charter the society still works under, and since the annual meeting on the first Thursday in January, 1854, the growth of its influence and importance has been steady and rapid. At this meeting Lyman C. Draper, LL. D., was chosen corresponding secretary. When he took direction of the society's fortunes its library consisted of but fifty volumes and pamphlets; there was neither museum nor art gallery, and the institution was quartered in a corner of the secretary of state's office. To-day the society is domiciled in the south wing of the capitol, two floors being devoted to its magnificent library, and another-partitioned into three spacious halls - to its splendid museum of historic, pre-historic and scientific curiosities, and its portrait gallery, in which are displayed oil portraits of 185 distinguished Wisconsin pioneers and Indian chiefs. Its collection of relics of the war for the preservation of the Union is large and interesting. About 40,000 persons visit the museum and portrait gallery annually, while the library attracts scholars and specialists from all parts of the west and south.

The library additions number some 4,700 volumes and pamphlets per year. At present the shelves contain about 145,000 books and pamphlets, covering every department of American history, as well as taking a general sweep of English and continental history and scientific development. It is of particular value as an aid to the students of the State University, who daily throng the reading rooms and deem the ample facilities for original research there given them, as one of the most important advantages of student life at the capital.

As a whole, the institution ranks not lower than third among American historical societies, and certainly is the most important west of the Alleghanies; in some respects, it is * To whom communications may be addressed.

recognized by experts as the most active of them all. It has done and is doing a noble work for Wisconsin indeed for the entire west - by resurrecting and perpetuating the records of our development in its now famous volumes of Historical Collections, eleven in number, which contain practically all the materials now obtainable for the varied and romantic early history of our commonwealth; by collecting and keeping up, abreast of the times, a library of Americana, which as to size and scope has but two rivals in this country, and they on the Atlantic slope; and by maintaining a museum and an art gallery which are of growing interest and educational value to the citizens of the state.

At the annual meeting on the 6th of January, 1887, Lyman C. Draper declined a re-election as corresponding secretary, after thirty-three years of persistent and highly successful labors in behalf of the historical society and the state-he being then in his 72d year, and desirous of devoting his remaining days to completing some individual literary work which he had long had in hand. Reuben G. Thwaites was chosen his successor, having been the assistant to Dr. Draper for two years previous. The latter was chosen honorary secretary (emeritus), without salary, as a complimentary recognition of his services. Daniel S. Durrie became identified with the society in 1856, as librarian, assuming active duties in 1858, and remaining constantly in service since that time.

The society receives an annual appropriaion of $5,000 on condition that the sum shall be expended for the purposes of the society, and that the society shall hold all its present and future collections and property for the state, and shall not sell, mortgage or dispose of, or remove from the capitol, its collections without authority from the legislature; provided that duplicates may be sold or exchanged for the benefit of the society. In addition to this annual appropriation, the officers of the society have collected, after twenty-two years of persistent efforts, by means of individual bequests, donations and membership dues, a binding fund of $23,000, the income of which is now being used for much-needed binding a constant source of expense in the management of great iibraries. An Antiquarian fund is also well under way, to be devoted in due time to original historical investigation or the purchase of rare manuscript or other historic relics within the limits of the state.