males. This does not mean that the female grows 
faster, but that the male dies off sooner. 
BLUEGILLS AND OTHER SUNFISH 
The bluegill, more than any other species in the 
lake, has maintained a uniform population and a 
uniform size. It grows steadily and, apparently, re- 
produces successfully year after year. The bluegill 
does not feed on other fishes extensively, probably 
because of its small mouth, and is in the position 
of a bystander in the struggle among the crappies 
and the bass. 
The flier sunfish multiplied rapidly during the first 
year and in 1934 constituted about one-fifth of all 
fishes taken. Since then it has declined and has al- 
most disappeared. Only five were taken this year. 
A few other kinds of sunfishes and related species 
have been taken in small numbers each year. None 
of them shows any indication of reaching important 
numbers, with the possible exception of the yellow 
bass. 
BULLHEADS 
The black bullhead spawned very successfully in 
1932. This brood reached an average length of 9 
inches by 1934. Since that time they have been 
growing one-half inch per year. There is no evidence 
of the survival of any subsequent broods. In April, 
1937, the black bullheads were all thin. They 
seemed to be “all head and tail.” Their flesh was 
extremely soft and, on dressing, much of it pulled 
off with the skin. During the present spring most 
of them seemed to be in good condition although 
a few were still poor. 
The yellow bullhead also produced a large brood 
in 1932. Since then small broods have survived 
about every second year. The yellow bulheads also 
appeared to be starved in 1937, but not in 1938. A 
few were examined post mortem in 1937 but no evi- 
dence of disease or parasites was found. 
Bullheads are desirable food and it would seem a 
good thing to make better use of those in Horseshoe 
Lake. 
FORAGE FISH 
There appear to be about one-half million pounds 
of game fish and bullheads in Horseshoe Lake which 
feed almost entirely on fish. Experiments have 
shown that at moderate temperatures a largemouth 
bass must eat about one percent of its weight in fish 
per day in order merely to maintain its bodily proc- 
esses, without any increase in weight. Since there 
are about 200 days a year when the water of Horse- 
shoe Lake is warm, this means that one million 
pounds of forage fish are the minimal sustaining 
requirements for these fish. Growth of these game 
fish demands nourishment at the rate of 3 to 5 
pounds of forage fish for each pound of new flesh 
added. Thus, it is not improbable that as much as 
two or three million pounds of small fish are con- 
sumed annually. 
The principal items which compose this enormous 
quantity of fish flesh are: 
(1) The young of larger fishes. 
(2) Both young and adults of a variety of min- 
nows and other small fishes, of which the golden 
shiner and the live-bearing top minnow have been 
of outstanding importance. 
(3) The gizzard shad. 
The gizzard shad, while not useful for human con- 
sumption, multiplies very rapidly and is an impor- 
tant food for game fish in lakes. It has a further 
advantage in that it feeds upon the microscopic life 
in the water and does not compete for food with edi- 
ble species. From 1934 until 1937 the number of 
adult gizzard shad declined steadily, probably be- 
cause they were eaten by increasing numbers of crap- 
pies of large sizes. Now that the large-sized crap- 
pies are disappearing, the gizzard shad again shows 
an increase. 
RoOuGH FISH 
The carp and buffalo which make up the bulk of 
rough fish in the lake now average about 5 pounds 
each. Each female carp of this size produces one- 
half million or more eggs. The young fish which 
develop from these eggs are an important food item 
of the game fish and tend to offset whatever com- 
petition the carp and buffalo offer in other respects. 
NOTE:—Reprinted in part from Illinois Conserva- 
tion, Summer, 1938. Cuts and type courtesy of 
Illinois Department of Conservation. 
