Note: Information is dated. Do not rely on it.

Bony Pike, or Garfish. A remarkable order of fishes inhabiting North American lakes and rivers, and one of the few living forms that now represent the order of ganoid fishes so largely developed in previous geological epochs. The body is covered with diagonal whorls of smooth enameled scales, so hard that it is impossible to pierce them with a spear. The common long-nosed garfish attains the length of five feet, and is easily distinguished by the great length of its jaws. The short-nosed garfish resembles the common garfish, but has shorter jaws. The alligator gar of southern United States attains a length of six feet and has a head resembling an alligator.

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