180 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
Large goujons are taken in the lake above the dam. Some distance north of the 
lake, at New Boston, 111., a pretty catch of 14 was made on September 5, 1916, the 
fish ranging in total length from 57 to 89 centimeters (22.5 to 35 inches.) It is said 
to be found in all suitable waters throughout the Mississippi Valley as well as in the 
Gulf States, being most abundant in the lower courses of larger streams. It is 
known as a fish of rivers rather than of sloughs and isolated lakes, but is associated 
with sluggish waters rather than with swift current. In 1890 Meek reported that it 
was less common in the Mississippi than in former years. 
Unlike the Fulton cat, the goujon gives no sign of such a migratory habit as 
would be significantly affected by a barrier across the Mississippi River. In 1926 
reports received at Montrose and Keokuk were to the effect that the goujon was increas- 
ing in numbers in the lake; while at Dallas City, across the lake, and at Burlington, 
near its upper limit, it was alleged that this catfish, especially in the larger sizes, was 
becoming increasingly scarce. Above the lake the species is apparently maintaining 
itself, except in the region of Lake Pepin and below to Lynxville, where it is reported 
to have declined in recent years. The yellow cat was never abundant in that region. 
Other species of the family observed at Keokuk were the little stone cat, Noturus 
flavus (Rafinesque), of which a single example was taken from the stomach of a sauger 
on the lock gate; the yellow bullhead, Ameiurus natalis (Le Sueur), taken in Larry 
Creek and in Keokuk Lake just above the lock; and the black bullhead, Ameiurus 
melas (Rafinesque). The last mentioned is locally known as the “bullpouch” 
(a corruption of bullpout), the name “bullhead” being unfortunately applied to 
large spotted catfish. They are taken in the river from time to time, being particularly 
common in 1916, owing, in the opinion of fishermen, to the high stages of water con- 
necting the sloughs 'with the river. While addicted to “deep and muddy streams 
with slowly moving current,” it seems not to occur abundantly in the larger rivers. 
(Call, 1892; Forbes and Richardson, 1908.) An example taken near Warsaw, 111., 
on April 7 was 12.5 inches in total length and weighed a pound. Its stomach contents 
consisted of centipede (10 per cent), May-fly nymphs (Hexagenia, 80 per cent), and 
debris (10 per cent). 
COMMERCIAL FISHERY FOR CATFISHES 
The seasonal abundance of catfishes in the region of Keokuk, as reflected by the 
reports of the local markets gathered by Stringham, is shown in Figure 17. It is 
evident that the periods of greatest catch of catfish did not coincide with the spawning 
season, which is in June and July, but rather began when that season was half over 
and continued for about six weeks. The only known factor that changed synchro- 
nously with the rise and decline of the fishery was the temperature of the water, which 
first passed 71° F. (21.5° C.) on June 25, rose until July 30, and then declined. In 
this connection, reference may be made to Evermann’s report (1889, p. 292) that in 
Louisiana there is little fishing for catfish in summer (beginning in May) when the 
fish are supposed to run farther upstream or to retire to deeper water. 
An increasing abundance of catfish in Lake Keokuk is well attested, by the 
market reports obtained by Stringham in 1916 and by the statistical surveys. (Coker, 
1929.) The market receipts of catfish in summer at certain points on the lake are 
given in the following table, in which comparison is made with the total receipts at 
the same points for the whole year of 1914, the figures for that year being obtained 
from manuscript sheets of statistical agents conducting the survey for 1914: 
