112 



BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



pale straw color and frequently bear several distinct dusky spots. With reference to the number 

 of fulcra on the dorsal fin, this species again is intermediate, bearing from 8 to 14 of these modified 

 scales in a single row along the anterior edge of the first ray of the dorsal. The rows of scales on the 

 sides in all three species are too close to serve as distinguishing characters. 



Except for the head, the gars bear a fairly close resemblance to each other. The long, cylindrical 

 body is incased in an armor of heavy, platelike scales, which, no doubt, afford effectual protection 

 from almost all of their natural enemies. The gars are utilized as food by some of the negroes. 

 The roe of this fish, however, is said to be poisonous. 



Fig. 1. — Heads of the gars, a, Lepisosteus platostomns; b, L. tristoechus; c, L. osseus. From specimens taken at Greenwood, 



Miss., in 1925 



The short-nosed gar appears to have an extended spawning period, as mature eggs were found 

 in fish taken from late June to late September. The ovary of a 630-millimeter (25 inches) fish 

 contained approximately 6,300 ripe eggs, which averaged 2 millimeters in diameter. 



Beetle fragments composed the bulk of the contents of 15 stomachs examined. The small 

 shrimp (Palsemonetes exilipes) was utilized somewhat and small fish only rarely. The ingested 

 material apparently undergoes rather thorough mastication before reaching the short, thin-walled 

 digestive tract. 



Its distribution is general throughout this section, frequenting rivers, lakes, and ponds; but 

 the rivers apparently afford the most favorable conditions. 



