FISHES OF CHESAPEAKE BAY 149 
its large mouth and long teeth, sometimes doing a considerable amount of damage to the nets. 
At times it is a nuisance to anglers on account of its bait-stealing habits. 
This garfish is said to attain a length of 4 feet (Smith, 1907, p. 157), but the largest fish observed 
in Chesapeake Bay did not exceed feet. Little is known concerning the rate of growth. Young 
fish taken during the late spring and summer were of the following sizes: June 10, 1921, Lynnhaven 
Roads, 47 to 50 millimeters (1% to 2 inches); June 25-30, Buckroe Beach, 50 to 106 millimeters 
(2 to 4J^ inches); July 10, lower York River, 54 to 70 millimeters ( 2 J/g to 2%, inches); July 25-30, 
lower Rappahannock River, 62 to 129 millimeters (2% to 5-fi inches). Larger fish are difficult to 
group. Thus, while using a small haul seine at Ocean View, Va., on October 3, 15 fish were taken, 
measuring from 11 to 16 inches, the intervening sizes being well represented. 
Several specimens were weighed in the field, giving the following results: Length 13.3 inches, 
weight 1.4 ounces; length 13.4 inches, weight 1.6 ounces; length 21.1 inches, weight 9.4 ounces; 
length 23 inches, weight 9.6 ounces; length 23.2 inches, weight 10 ounces. 
This species is comparatively common in the Chesapeake region and is found in all parts of the 
bay from Havre de Grace, Md., to Cape Henry, Va. It ascends the various tributaries and has been 
recorded from fresh water (Smith and Bean, 1899, p. 185). Bean (1901, p. 405) states that “it 
ascends rivers far above the limits of the tide, feeding upon minnows and other small fishes.” It 
is generally found in small schools of from a few to several dozen fish, and occasionally an individual 
is taken alone. 
Although the flesh of the gar is palatable, the fish has no commercial importance in Chesapeake 
Bay. It was never observed in any of the fish markets, and it was noted that fishermen always 
culled this species from the other food fishes. 
Habitat . — Massachusetts to Texas, sometimes straying northward to Maine. 
Chesapeake localities. — (a) Previous records: Nearly all brackish waters of Chesapeake Bay 
and its vicinity; Bryans Point and Aqueduct Bridge, Potomac River. ( b ) Specimens in collection: 
All parts of the bay from Havre de Grace, Md., to Lynnhaven Roads, Va. 
66. Tylosurus acus (Lac6pede). Houndfish; Garfish; Needlefish. 
SpJiyrzna acus Lacepede, Hist., Nat. Poiss., V, 1803, p. 6, PL I, fig. 2; Martinique. 
Tylosurus acus Jordan and Evermann, 1896-1900, p. 716, Pi. CXVI, fig. 309. 
Head 2.6; depth 18.5; D. 23; A. 22; scales about 400. Body very elongate, not quite as broad 
as deep; caudal peduncle depressed, broader than deep, with a keel on the sides, its depth 24 in 
head; head long, flat above, and with a broad, shallow groove; cheeks and opercles straight and 
nearly vertical; snout very long and slender, its length 1.85 in head; eye 13.5; interorbital 11; 
mouth large, horizontal; the lower jaw slightly projecting; the upper jaw weakly arched, the 
mouth not quite capable of being closed; teeth in bands in each jaw, the inner ones enlarged, 
long and pointed, not compressed; lateral line complete, curved upward on caudal peduncle; scales 
quite small, cycloid, present on the preopercle but not on the opercle; dorsal fin inserted over the 
origin of the anal, much nearer the base of the ventral than base of caudal, the anterior rays elevated, 
much longer than the posterior ones; caudal fin forked, the lower lobe much the larger; anal fin 
similar to the dorsal, but with a shorter base; ventral fins moderate, inserted about equidistant 
