IO FISHES OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 
FAMILY III]. ACIPENSERIDA. THE STURGEONS. 
Acipenser rubicundus Le Sueur. LAKE STURGEON, 
[Jord. Man. 42. O. St. Surv. 4.] 
Sturgeons are large spindle-shaped fish, with big, sucker-like 
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mouths, without scales, but having rows of shields on the back and 
sides ; not easily mistaken for anything else. (See plate 5.) 
We have but one species, which is verycommon. ‘The young 
have much sharper and comparatively larger spines than the older 
ones. The largest specimen I have seen measured 6 ft. 2 in., 
and weighed 129 lbs. Formerly sturgeon were but little valued, 
but now there is a ready market for all caught at $1.50 each, the 
pedlars taking them into the country. Almost every pound-boat 
that comes in has a few sturgeon, the most being caught in May. 
One man, near Dover, uses a gill net with a seven-inch mesh for 
taking them. 
FAMILY IV. LEPIDOSTEIDA. GARS. 
4. Lepidosteus osseus (Linneus). GARPIKE. BILL-FISH. 
[Jord. Man. 44. O. St. Surv. 7.] 
A long, slim fish, with the body covered with diamond-shaped 
bony scales; color leaden in old specimens, marked with black 
spots which are more distinct in the young. The head is long and 
slender, the sxout from eye to tip more than twice the length of 
the rest of the head. 
Gars are common in the lake and lower parts of the larger 
streams. Large schools come into the rivers in April to spawn. 
They grow to be from 2 to 5 feet long. 
5. Lepidosteus platystomus Rafinesque. © SHoRr- 
NOSED Gar. 
[Jord. Man. 45. O. St. Surv. 8.] 
Very much like the preceding species, from which it may be 
told by the shorter snout, only about equal to the rest of the 
head. (See plate 1.) 
Very rare. 
