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Neil
May 14th, 2007, 08:56 AM
Hey look at this cool fish!


http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o146/DeepBound/longnosegar_adj.jpg
Terry
May 14th, 2007, 10:15 AM
Okay, I'll bite...what is it?
Neil
May 14th, 2007, 11:11 AM
I believe it's a longnose gar.
Have you seen them around before? I don't think I've noticed one before. It was about 3 feet long, and had that distinctive long nose.
scubagirl
May 14th, 2007, 11:14 AM
Cool, Neil. Where did you find it? I'm told there's one usually in the vicinity of Centeen Park.
Neil
May 14th, 2007, 11:24 AM
It was in 40ft of water just a bit upstream of the Daryaw. At first I thought it was a pike, but that big nose makes it distinctive :)
scubagirl
May 14th, 2007, 11:30 AM
It could be a spotted gar. I believe longnose gars have fewer spots.

How long was it?
Neil
May 14th, 2007, 11:41 AM
That would be really neat, since the spotted gar is threatened in Canada (according to this http://dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/Collection/CW69-14-67-2005E.pdf). According to that same report, a spotted gar has never been verified in the St. Lawrence. I agree it looks more like a spotted gar. Wow! :D

I think it was 2.5 to 3ft long.
scubagirl
May 14th, 2007, 11:54 AM
If it's a threatened species, maybe you should send that photo to someone in the Fisheries or Wildlife departments. They might want to know where they are being found.
marc g
May 15th, 2007, 07:59 AM
This one is a real beauty you don't get to see too many Gar Pike up here...I've spotted a few in the past around Prescott.
Neil
May 15th, 2007, 10:34 AM
If it's a threatened species, maybe you should send that photo to someone in the Fisheries or Wildlife departments. They might want to know where they are being found.
Ok, I emailed them the picture and a description of when and where I saw it, and asked them if they think it's a spotted gar. I'm not holding my breath waiting for a response though.
scubagirl
May 15th, 2007, 10:45 AM
Hey, you never know. I emailed the city about a traffic light issue, and was surprised that they replied within a week. Not that they were going to do anything about the issue...
Neil
May 18th, 2007, 11:04 AM
They responded:
---------------------
Neil - thank-you for forwarding your electronic image of a gar you observed in the St. Lawrence River. Your photo has been examined by several fisheries experts in MNR as well as the Royal Ontario Museum. There was unanimous agreement that this fish is a longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus).

I have attached a photo of a longnose gar (top) and spotted gar (bottom). The difference in the snout is quite obvious.

You are correct in that the distribution of the spotted gar does not extend as far north as the St. Lawrence River.

Thanks again for your interest.
scubagirl
May 18th, 2007, 12:56 PM
nice of them to send you photos of a couple of dead fish :-(
Terry
May 18th, 2007, 03:20 PM
Better than mailing him samples.
owlbill
May 18th, 2007, 03:21 PM
:lolsign::fish:
Neil
May 22nd, 2007, 04:32 PM
I got another email from them about the gar :D

=====================

Hello Neil,

We are writing the field guide to Ontario fishes, which is planned for
publication at the end of this year. We are looking for images of each
species that helps describe the degree of variation in colour pattern,
shape etc. of each species. It has been suggested that we include, in
the longnose gar account, the image that you sent to the MNR, and
eventually was sent to me. Would it be alright for us to use this in the
guide, and would you have an image of higher resolution?
Terry
May 22nd, 2007, 04:43 PM
Quick. Get a contract to the gar right away appointing you his/her agent for Canada, with exclusive photo, interview and film rights. Big bucks, Neil, this could be your ticket to early retirement.
Neil
May 22nd, 2007, 04:56 PM
Quick. Get a contract to the gar right away appointing you his/her agent for Canada, with exclusive photo, interview and film rights. Big bucks, Neil, this could be your ticket to early retirement.

HAHAHA good one :D
scubagirl
May 22nd, 2007, 11:50 PM
don't forget to have the gar sign a model release...
Terry
May 23rd, 2007, 07:41 AM
And when you're doing the pitch...you know, talking about champagnes, limos and fame...don't mention caviar. They get sensitive about that.
Neil
May 23rd, 2007, 10:13 AM
And when you're doing the pitch...you know, talking about champagnes, limos and fame...don't mention caviar. They get sensitive about that.

ROFL

I didn't even get gar's name... he seemed camera shy, and swam away really fast after the first picture. I don't know if he'll agree to all this.
owlbill
May 23rd, 2007, 11:16 AM
Maybe treat it like a first aid situation, if they are unresponsive, it is assumed consent. No?
Terry
May 23rd, 2007, 11:30 AM
Maybe treat it like a first aid situation, if they are unresponsive, it is assumed consent. No?

Remind me not to let you date MY sister.
rwhitbread
May 24th, 2007, 03:32 PM
Maybe treat it like a first aid situation, if they are unresponsive, it is assumed consent. No?

Bill leave your sex life out of this will ya :roll:?

Neil,

Great pic, but it looks like I missed called it I thought it was a spotted.