90 



GAR-FISH, OR SEA PIKE. 



Pharyngognathi. Seomberesocida. 



[Belone rostrata. Belone vulgaris.) 



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

 fish, Gar-pike, Faap, Mackerel, Hornbeak, Hornfish, Mackerel- 

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

 Hornhecht. Danish : Hornfish. Dutch : De Geep. French : 

 L' Orphic. 



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

 bone, Sea-needle, or Garrick, appears in slioals 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 ; 



e-AR-FiSH {Esox belone). 



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

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

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

 guide." During 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 Wat€)' of 

 December 8, 18G6, 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 xn'ey, until it has an opportunity 



