SYSTEMATIC CATALOGUE OF FISHES. 157 



133. TYLOSURUS MARINUS (Walbaum). 

 "Bill-fish"; "Gar-fish"; "Green Gar"; "Doctor-fish". 



Eaox marinus Walbaum, Artedi Genera Piscium, iii, 88, 1792. 



Belone longirostris. Yarrow, 1877, 214; Beaufort. Jordan & Gilbert, 1879, 383; Beaufort. Jordan & Gilbert , 



1879, 368; Neuse River at Goldsboro. 

 Tylosurus marinua, Jordan, 1886, 26; Beaufort. Jenkins, 1887,86; Beaufort. Smith, 1893a, 191, 195; 

 Pasquotank River and Edenton Bay. Linton, 1905, 356; Beaufort. 



Diagnosis. — Body slender, its greatest depth contained about 5.5 times in head; head 

 more than .3 total length; upper jaw (anterior to eye) .22 total length and twice length of 

 remainder of head; eye large, .4 postorbital part of head; maxillary only partly concealed by 

 preorbital; scales in lateral series about 300; lateral line forming a slight keel on caudal 

 peduncle; dorsal fin slightly falcate, the rays i,14 or i,15, the last rays not elongated; anal fin 

 shaped like dorsal, the rays i,17 or i,18; caudal slightly forked; pectorals about length of post- 

 orbital part of head; origin of ventrals midway between preopercle and base of caudal. 

 Color: uniformgreenabove, silvery on sides, white below; a narrow silvery lengthwise stripe; a 

 dark bar on opercle; fins olivaceous; keel on tail not black, {marinus, of the sea.) 



Fig. 61. Gar-fish; Bill-fish. Tylosurus marinus. 



This fish, which is found from Massachusetts to Texas, is common on the 

 North CaroUna coast, where it is the most abundant and most familiar member of 

 the family. The local name most often heard is "gar-fish". Dr. Yarrow's note 

 on the species at Beaufort in 1873 is : 



Quite abundant; appearingin Beaufort Inlet in February. At this time it swims in schools 

 and many are taken in nets. When swimming near the surface of the water it will readily take 

 the hook. Is eaten by poor fishermen and negroes, and the flesh is said to be good. The 

 largest specimen seen measured 24 inches in length. 



The well known habit of the species of entering fresh water is strikingly 

 exhibited in North Carolina. During spring it runs into Albemarle Sound, and 

 is not rare in the lower part of its tributaries, being often caught in nets and 

 seines; it is there known as " green gar", and is sometimes called " doctor-fish " by 

 the Edenton fishermen. Jordan & Gilbert record the fish from the Neuse at 

 Goldsboro. The maximum length of the species is about 4 feet, the average 

 about 1.5 to 2 feet. 



The gar is a surface swimmer and feeder, and preys chiefly on small fish like 

 anchovies and silversides Its movements are very swift, and it seldom fails to 

 catch the luckless minnow to which it gives chase. 



Little is known of the spawning of the gars, except that the eggs are depos- 

 ited in summer in the bays and estuaries. 



The flesh of the gar is very palatable, and should be generally eaten; but at 

 present the fish has no commercial value, and in North Carolina, when utilized at 

 all, is eaten only by negro fishermen. The peculiar green color of the skeleton 

 may perhaps account for the prejudice which many people entertain. 



