According to local Infonnatlon, Oale Lake was built with horse-drawn scra()ers; the greater 

 part of two years was required for Its completion. A double row of wooden sheet piling was driven 

 Into the base of the dam and along the entire north side (parallel to the railroad rl^t-of-way). In 

 several places the ends of the planks are still visible. Rlprapplng of broken concrete protects the 

 banks from wave action on the east, north, and west shores. Most of the south shore Is not rlprapped, 

 but shows considerable gravel. Underground seepage of water Is In evidence along the south shore be- 

 low the picnic grounds, where a hill rises above the lake. At the west end of Gale Lake, two 5-foot 

 culverts originally allowed water to enter from a nearby pond fed by overflow from a stream. These 

 culverts have been closed for several years. 



In 1945, Gale Products, a division of Outboard, Marine & Manufacturing Company, purchased 

 the lake from the Chicago, Burlington, & Qulncy Railroad Company and the surrounding lands from a local 

 estate with the object of developing a recreational area for Its employees. Much of the information 

 on winterkill In Gale Lake was obtained by J. F. Furry, manager of Gale Products. 



EARLY HISTORY OF THE FISH POPULATION 



No Stocking records are available for Gale Lake. Local people who fished this lake report 

 that fishing was fairly good previous to 1945, although carp, buffalo, and catfish predominated In the 

 catch. Some of these fishes probably entered the lake from the stream by way of the overflow pond and 

 culverts. Bass, bluegllls, and crapples also were taken occasionally. 



After the winterkill of 1944-45, fishing Is said to have been very poor. It Is probable 

 that little fishing was done In Gale Lake because of the opinion of local people that most of the fish 

 had died. 



Following the purchase of the lake by Gale Products, plans were laid to renovate the lake for 

 fishing. In March, 1946, a seining crew from Oquawka made two hauls with a 900- foot seine with the 

 object of removing rough fishes. This operation was largely unsuccessful, as the catch consisted of 

 two buffaloes weighing 15 pounds each and a few bullheads and large crapples. 



I9U6 FISH CENSUS 



In order to remove the undesirable fishes In Oale Lake It was necessary to lower the 

 water level and poison the entire fish population. Partial draining was accomplished by cutting a 

 trench through the old spillway at the southeast corner of the lake. This trench was screened to 

 prevent the escape of fish. By August 30, 1946, the water level had lowered until not more than 1 

 foot of water covered about 5 acres of the valley bottom; the movements of many fish could be ob- 

 served In this shallow water. 



Two growing seasons had elapsed since the winterkill of 1945. As fishes respond to arti- 

 ficial or natural thinning of their numbers by Increased rates of growth and Increased success In 

 spawning and survival of yo\mg. It seemed probable that the fish population present In Oale Lake 

 had expanded In both nunibers and weight to replace the loss that occurred during the winter of 

 1944-45. Thus, the population of September, 1946, probably represented the carrying capacity (by 

 weight) of the lake for fishes. 



