H 



sometimes called Jack or Jackfish. Lateral line straight, 



85th Species. Salmon Pike. Eaox ealmoneus. Brochct 

 saumonne. 



White, with many narrow transversal brown bands, som®'', 

 what curved: jaws nearly equal, very obtuse: dorsal fins brown 

 longitudinal and extending over the anal fins: tail forked and 

 brown . 



It is one of the best fishes in the Ohio, its flesh is very delU 

 cate, and divides easily, as in Salmon, into large plate* as white 

 as snow. It is called Salmon Pike, White Pike, White Jack 

 •T White Pickerel, VLud' Ficaneau 6 lane by the Missourians. It 

 has a short and thick head, eyes not very large, and situated 

 "ttpwards. Pectoral and abdominal fins trapezoidal. Dorsal fin 

 beginning behind these last and extending over the anal. Th6 

 number of transversal bauds is twelve or more, rather distant 

 and with the concavity towards the head. It reaches the length 

 •f five feet. Lateral line nearly straight. 



XXVin. Genus. Garfish. Lepisosteus. Lepisoste 

 Body cylindrical or fusiform, covered with hard bany scales, 

 vent posterior. Head bony scaleless. Jaws very long, and 

 with strong unequal teeth. Opening: of the gills very large. 

 Tail obliqual. AH the fins with rays. One dorsal fin behind 

 the abdominal fins which are removed from the vent. 



The Garfishes or Gars, are easily known from the Pikes by 

 their large and hard scales. This fine genus had been over- 

 looked by Linneus and united with the Pikes. Lacepede was 

 the first to distinguish it; but he has not been able to ascertain 

 nor elucidate its numerous species. He has blended all the 

 North American species under the name of Lefiisosteus ^avial^ 

 the type of which was the Esox osseus of Linneus, or r?.ther 

 the Alligator fish of Catesby. I find tlrat Dr. Mitchill, in ai 

 late publication, describes another species quite new under the 

 ©bsolete name of Esox esseus. I shall describe and distin- 

 guish accurately five species living in the Ohio or Mississippi, 

 which must be divided into two subgenera. To this number, 

 must be added three other known speci^'^. 1. L.gavial^ iht 

 Garfish or Alligator fish of the Southe' : /vtlantic States. 2. /.• 

 sjiatula or the Gar of Chili. 3. L. ii.clicus or the Euit Indian 



