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An alligator gar, part of species 'as old as the dinosaurs,' breaks new records in Texas and beyond ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The "monster" alligator gar that was caught in Texas last month has broken not one, not two but four International Game and Fish Association (IGFA) records. Captain Kirk Kirkland served as the guide to Art Weston who reeled in the 283-pound alligator gar on Sept. 2. Kirkland and Weston wrestled with the beast for two hours and 45 minutes, until they finally brought the fish aboard. The anglers knew they had caught something record worthy when they saw how massive the...

Sightings of alligator gar - dubbed “monster fish” in mainland China - which authorities fear could trigger an ecological disaster have been reported in at least eight provinces. This followed the draining of an entire lake in central China on the weekend that eventually caught a pair of the invasive fish species. The large species of freshwater fish, which has razor-sharp teeth and can grow up to three metres long, has captivated the nation after a high-profile, month-long hunt for it that culminated in the draining of an entire lake in the city of Ruzhou in Henan. Now other parts...

On May 23 and 24, 1865, before the soldiers were mustered out of the Union Army, a Grand Review of the Armies was held in Washington, D.C., to honor the victorious troops. President Andrew Johnson also hoped to elevate the mood of a city that was devastated by the loss of President Abraham Lincoln. Over two hundred thousand soldiers marched from the Capitol to the White House before the largest crowds ever seen in that city. In a letter to Anna, Edwards estimated the number of spectators to be around fifty thousand. [SNIP] On the second day, General William T....

The carcass of a 'monstrous' fish spotted on Sunday (Feb 14) at MacRitchie Reservoir is the latest sighting of an alien species that is not supposed to be here at all. It was identified as an alligator gar. The fish, native to North America, can grow to a length of 2.5m, and is known to be released by owners who cannot cope with its size. Over the past 10 years, more than 20 people have faced enforcement action for illegally releasing animals, national water agency PUB and the National Parks Board (NParks) said in a joint statement on Wednesday. The...

Whether Brent Crawford has captured the world's largest alligator gar will never be known -- his scale bottomed out emphatically at 300 pounds and he filleted the prehistoric-looking fish after attempting to obtain its weight. But this much is clear: The gar Crawford landed while bow-fishing recently in Texas' Lake Corpus Christi is among the largest specimens ever captured -- and it was captured in a manner like no other gar captured beforehand.

VICKSBURG, Miss. -- A Vicksburg man pulled a 327-pound alligator gar from Chotard Lake in Issaquena County, Mississippi wildlife officials said. Kenny Williams caught the fish on Valentine's Day. Biologists with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks weighed the fish at 327 pounds. It was 8 feet 5 ¼ inches long and 47.95 inches around the body. Williams said he used nets to catch the fish and then grabbed it by the gills and pulled it into the boat. "At first I didn't think he was that big. But as I was getting him into the boat, it...

North America's largest freshwater fish, the predatory alligator gar, is now protected to preserve its numbers, as Kevin Connolly discovered on a fishing trip in Texas. We are at the top of the food chain - the most dangerous predators on the lazy Navidad River, where it crawls stealthily around the town of Lolita, Texas, as though hoping to amble on unnoticed to the Gulf of Mexico. By local standards, I must admit we did not really look the part. The alligators that slumbered in the quiet creeks and pools around us bristled with a quiet sense of menace, and...

Texans Kill Crafty Critters With Crossbows; Fishing Limits Are the Order of the Day CROCKETT, Texas -- The sadly misunderstood alligator gar, reviled for its frighteningly huge and prehistoric appearance and rows of razor-sharp teeth, has been hunted for centuries. Fishermen despise the gar because they believe the fish devour prized bass and crappie. Swimmers and boaters fear the gar's alligator-shaped jaws could take a chunk out of them in the water. But in recent times, alligator gar have experienced a kind of trash-to-trophy renaissance as sportsmen discovered the thrill of hunting the beasts, which can weigh up to 300...

Greetings fellow veterans: I need a little help identifying an old military abbreviation, apparently from the Civil War era. My gun guy is also a watch guy, and he's had this watch for several years. The watch is a Columbus Watch Company watch manufactured in approximately 1898. No problems with the watch itself, but rather what was painted onto the face of the watch. You can click on the image and see a hi-res (1280x960) copy of the pic. We know that GAR is Grand Army of the Republic, the name at the top appears to be Jas Haynes or Haynas,...