Fishes of the Western North Atlantic 6 7 



excursions. However, considering their anatomy, results of experimentation, observa- 

 tions on individuals in their natural habitat, and the regular breathing actions of in- 

 dividuals removed from water, there is little doubt that the swim bladder and associated 

 structures leading to it serve as a supplementary respiratory mechanism. 



Gars feed primarily on other fishes, most of which are forage species (Bonham, 11 : 

 358—360). There are very few published accounts of cannibalism, but Gars with por- 

 tions of their tails missing are frequently captured, indicating that they have been 

 snapped at by other individuals; this has been observed in streams and canals of penin- 

 sular Florida, where the Florida Gar {L.flatyrhincus) is very abundant. In estuarine 

 waters of Louisiana, Alligator Gar frequently consume the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, 

 as well as garbage (Weed, 6g: 9, 10; Gudger, 26: 120, 121) where refuse is regularly 

 thrown into the water. 



Relation to Man. Although Alligator Gar, L. spatula, attain a large size, no authen- 

 ticated records of an attack on man are available {6g: 9, 10; 26: 120, 121). The usual 

 response by Gar when disturbed by a bather or fisherman is a dash for deeper water. 

 While Gars are considered to be a nuisance and are detrimental to game fishes, sport 

 fishing for Alligator Gars has become popular in recent years in Louisiana, Arkansas, 

 Mississippi, and other states in the Mississippi Valley. 



Alligator Gar are sold in the French Market in New Orleans at the present time, 

 and small numbers are consumed elsewhere in the United States. Dr. Robert R. Miller 

 contributes the information that L. tropicus is of considerable importance as a food item 

 on the Pacific side of southern Mexico and Guatemala. And personal conversation with 

 Nicaraguans reveals that L. tropicus is used for food in the Lago de Nicaragua area 

 and lower Rio San Juan. The North and Central American Indians used the ganoid 

 scales and bones for arrow points, ritual instruments, and ornaments. The late Mr. 

 Percy Viosca, Jr., of New Orleans, at one time made an array of ornaments and jewelry 

 from their scales. 



Habitat and Range. Their range extends from Quebec in the northeast, west to 

 the upper Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes region, and south to Costa Rica in 

 Central America and southwestern Cuba, including the Isle of Pines. Although they 

 are primarily inhabitants of freshwater streams and lakes, several species enter brackish 

 and marine waters. L. spatula is a common inhabitant of brackish water in Louisiana, 

 and several specimens have been captured from the Gulf of Mexico, on the Gulf side 

 of Breton Island and Grand Isle, Louisiana, and at Destin, Florida. The Longnose Gar, 

 L. osseus, is somewhat less tolerant of marine waters and is seldom captured outside 

 of the brackish estuarine areas. The Spotted Gar, L. oculatus, is a common summer 

 inhabitant of the fresher parts of the estuaries in Louisiana. 



One species, L. sinensis (Bleeker, 9: 148, 154), supposedly occurs in China (Wag- 

 ner, 68: 738-741). Most standard references fail to mention an extant Asiatic form. 



Geological History. Garfishes are known from the Upper Cretaceous to Lower 

 Miocene time; in the Eocene of India and in North America from the Middle Eocene 

 to Recent period (Berg, 8: 214, 415; Romer, 62: 548). 



s* 



