90 



GAR-FISH, OR SEA PIKE. 



Pharyngognaihi. Scombercsocidoi. 



[Belone rostrata. Belone vulgaris.) 



Local Names : Longnose, Gorehill, Greenback, Greenhone, Guard- 

 Jish, Gar-pike, Faap, Mackerel, Hornheak, Hornfish, Mackerel- 

 guide, Sea-needle, Old Wife, WJmup fish. German : Der 

 Hornheclit. Danish : Hornfish. Dutch : Be Geep. French : 

 L' Orphie. 



Gar-fish, or Sea Pike, alias Mackerel-guide, Green- 

 bone, Sea-needle, or Garrick, appears in shoals about 

 April, and remains till late in autumn. Its length is 

 from eighteen inches to two feet; the jaws are very long, 

 slender, and sharp pointed, with numbers of small teeth; 



GAR-FISH [Esox belone). 



and the body is very slender. On account of its leaving 

 deep water in spring, to spawn near the shore, preceding 

 the mackerel, it has received the name of "mackerel- 

 guide." Daring winter it retires into the unknown 

 depths of the ocean. On many occasions these gorebills 

 are very serviceable as bait. 



The late Mr. Couch, writing in Land and Water of 

 December 8, 1866, makes the following valuable re- 

 marks : — 



" The protruded jaws of the gar-fish (commonly called 

 by fishermen gore -fish) bear some scarcely distant like- 

 ness to, at least, the upper jaw of the sword-fish, but 

 being armed with teeth, they are, for the most part, used 

 for laying hold of its prey, until it has an opportunity 



