10 FISHES OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Family III. ACIFENSERID^. The Sturgeons. 



3- Acipeiiser rubieuiirtus Le Sueur. Lake Sturgeon. 



[Jord. Man. 42. O. St. Surv 4.] 



Sturgeons are large spindle-shaped fish, with big, sucker-like 

 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 very common. 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. LEPIDOSTEID^. Gars. 



4- Lepitlosteus osseus (Linnaeus). 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 snout 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. Short- 

 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 i.) 



Very rare. 



