In the large aquarium the commissioners decided to show the commercial fishes of the State—­that is, such fishes as were commonly used for shipping and found in greatest abundance, namely, the carp, buffalo, the coarser catfishes, and dogfish.  The dogfish in the last few years has become a very important factor in the food supply, having been previously thrown away as worthless, but is now extensively used by a class of people in the larger cities and sold alive under the name of grass bass.  In this aquarium has been carried, for a period of seven months, perhaps the largest amount in weight ever carried in an aquarium for that length of time with so small a percentage of loss.

In the smaller aquaria were shown the game fish of the State, a list of which comprises the black bass, crappie, sunfishes, yellow perch, white perch, warmouth bass, and the two varieties of striped bass.

These aquaria have attracted a great deal of attention, particularly among those who were interested in the subject of fish propagation and distribution, and gave people a better idea of what Illinois produced than could have been obtained by any other method.

The exhibits of the common schools and the five State normal schools were installed under the direction of the State superintendent of public instruction.  The material of the exhibits was furnished, except that from the normal schools, by the school districts, without expense to the commission, and in substantial conformity to the following suggestions, sent to the schools about November 1, 1903: 

Classification of schools.—­Group 1.  Elementary education.—­Class 1.  Country schools.  Class 2.  Semigraded schools.  Class 3.  Graded schools.  Group 2.  Secondary education.—­Class 4.  High schools.  Class 5.  Normal schools.

Under this classification it is desired to exhibit:  (1) Legislation, organization, general statistics; (2) buildings, photographs, plans, models; (3) administrative methods; (4) results obtained by methods of instruction.

The educational exhibit of the university of Illinois occupied a space 30 by 45 feet, or an area of 1,290 square feet, open upon an aisle on its long dimension.  Against the back and the two side walls were glass-inclosed cases 7 feet high, and above these were many enlarged photographs in frames, showing the main buildings, views of the campus, etc., together with numerous pictures from the department of art and design, also a set of finely colored plates of the food and game fish of Illinois.  Other cases occupied a part of the central area of the space, with room for seats and a writing table.

The exhibits were classified according to general subjects illustrative of the equipment and work of the colleges of the university from which they came.  An attendant was on hand to supply published documents and information to visitors.