ARROW-FISHING. 63 



There are two kinds of thcra, alike in office, but distinct 

 in species ; thej are known by those who fish in the 

 streams which they inhabit as the "gar." They are, when 

 grown to their full size, twelve or fifteen feet in length, 

 voracious monsters to look at. so well made for strength, 

 so perfectly protected from assault, so capable of inflict- 

 ing injury. The smaller kind, growing not larger than 

 six feet, have a body that somewhat resembles in form 

 the pike, covered by what looks more like large, flat 

 heads of wrought iron, than scales, which it is impossi- 

 ble to remove without cutting them out — they are so 

 deeply imbedded in the flesh. The jaws of this mon- 

 ster, form about one fourth of its whole length; they are 

 shaped like the bill of a goose, armed in the interior 

 with triple rows of teeth, as sharp, and well set, as those 

 of a saw. 



But the terror^ is the '• alligator gar," a monster that 

 seems to combine all the most destructive powers of the 

 shark and the reptile. The alligator gar grows to the 

 enormous length of fifteen feet ; its head resembles the 

 alligator's ; within its wide-extended jaws glisten in- 

 numerable rows of teeth, running, in solid columns, 

 down into its very throat. Blind in its instinct to de- 

 stroy, and singularly tenacious of life, it seems to prey 

 with untiring energy, and with an appetite that is in- 

 creased by gratification. 



Such are the fish, that are made victims of the mere 

 sport of the arrow-fisherman. 



