KEOKUK DAM 
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treme decline in 1927. A beginning of a fishery for quillback was seen in Lake Keokuk 
in 1917, but the quantity yielded was not significant; the fishery did not show in the 
1922 canvass but appears again in 1927. 
Among the most esteemed of commercial fishes that seem to have declined in 
abundance in recent years are the paddlefish, or so-called spoonbill cat, and the stur- 
geons. For both of these there was substantial diminution in the returns from com- 
mercial fisheries of Lake Pepin from 1914 to 1917 (67 and 52 per cent, respectively); 
both seemed to show recovery in 1922 (increase over 1917 of 446 and 926 per cent, 
respectively), but in 1927 appeared insignificantly or not at all. In Lake Keokuk the 
paddlefish fishery, not appearing in 1914 and insignificant in 1917 (927 pounds), 
showed more signs of life in 1922 (27,000 pounds). In 1927, however, the reported 
yield was only about 1,200 pounds. 
The lake-sturgeon fishery is now insignificant, unfortunately, and the figures are 
too small to be used safely for inference. The sand-sturgeon fishery of Lake Keokuk, 
of little importance in 1914 (1,900 pounds), dwindled to virtually nothing in 1917 
(454 pounds); in 1922 it was represented by a small catch (600 pounds) of shovelnose 
sturgeon (another name for the same species) but did not appear at all in the report 
for 1927. 
In the case of suckers there was observed a decline of 17 per cent in Lake Pepin 
from 1914 to 1922 but a great increase in 1922, the figures for the respective years 
being 18,000, 15,000, and 43,000 pounds (32,000 pounds in 1927). In Lake Keokuk 
a decline of’85 per cent appeared in 1917, and none were reported for 1922 or 1927. 
Eels have never been sufficiently abundant in the extreme upper portion of the 
Mississippi River to enter substantially into the commercial fishery. They have been 
more plentiful farther south, as in the region of Keokuk. From 1914 to 1917 there 
was noted a decline of 45 per cent in the take of eels in Lake Keokuk, and none was 
reported for 1922 or 1927. 
While the statistics of the capture of game fish (black bass, crappie, pike, pike 
perch, and sunfish) in Lake Keokuk for 1917 and 1922 are suggestive of an increased 
abundance of such fishes, as would be expected, the figures can not be used safely for 
purposes of strict comparisons. The laws of both Iowa and Illinois have imposed 
limitations upon the capture of game fishes and attach conditions to their shipment 
for sale from certain waters. (Stringham, 1919, pp. 10, 11, and 19.) It is unlikely, 
therefore, that full and correct information regarding the capture and sale of such fishes 
is obtainable by statistical agents from the fishermen. 
Had we no other canvasses than those of 1914 and 1917, we might draw rather 
definite conclusions; but the data for 1922 would upset them seriously. Some fish 
that at first rose quickly in yield failed later fully to maintain the rise; others that 
seemed distinctly on the decline are found to have come back into prominence. If we 
should now draw any such conclusions they must be tentative. Certain facts may 
first be recalled. 
1. The canvasses of 1914, 1917, and 1922 reveal a steadily increasing commer- 
cial catch in Lake Pepin — in round numbers the successive yields are 759,000, 1,213,- 
000, and 3,572,000 pounds. While the trend showed an interruption in 1927, when 
866,000 pounds were taken, it would be difficult to relate this to a delayed effect of 
the dam. 
2. Considering Lake Pepin and the three surveys during a period of 9 years 
after the construction of the dam: (a) Two lands of fish show increasing yield each 
