BELO'NE, a genus of Fishes belonging to the family Esocidce of the Abdominal Malaeopterygii. It has a head and body greatly elongated, the latter covered with minute scales ; both jaws very much produced, straight, narrow, and pointed, and armed with numerous small teeth ; the dorsal fin placed over the anal fin. The species are remarkable for the green colour of their bones.
One species, the Bekaa rulgaris, is common on the British coast. It is known by various names, but more especially that of Gar-Fish. It was placed by Linn:ens in the genus Esox, and being an inhabitant of the sea, it got the name of Sea-Pike. From the fact of its leaving the deep water in spring to deposit its ova near the shore in the months of April and May, and thus preceding the mackerel in their annual visit to shallow water for the same purpose, it has received the name of Mackerel-Guide. Its other English names according to Yemen are Greenbone, II orn-Fisli, Long-Nose, Gorehill, and Sea-Needle. The usual length of this fish is about 24 inches. It has elongated jaws, beset with numerous minute teeth. The eye is large. The body is uniform in depth to the anal fin, thence tapering to the tail. The dorsal and anal fins begin and end nearly on the same plane. The ventral fins are small. The tail is forked ; the external long rays are nearly as long again as those of the centre. The upper part of the head and back is of a dark greenish blue ; the aides and belly are silvery white; the pectoral, ventral, and anal fins white. This fish is taken off the coast of Berwick during the Mackerel season, and Dr.
Johnston says it is not 'infrequently called a Sword-Fish. It is taken also on the Devonshire and Cornish coasts. The fish are brought into the London markets in the spring, and eaten in considerable quantities. The flesh has the flavour of mackerel, but it is drier. Great numbers are said to be caught off the coast of Holland, but they are only used there as bait. Mr. Couch says of the Gar-Fish, that it "swims near the surface at all distances from land, and is seen not 'infrequently to spring out of its clement ; its vivacity being such that it will for a long time play about a floating straw, and leap over it many times in succession. When it has taken the hook it mounts to the surface, often before the fisherman has felt the bite ; and then with its slender body half out of the water, it struggles with the most violent contortions to wrench the hook from its jaws. It emits a strong smell when newly taken." In the Ionian Islands, according to Mr. Tonna, it is caught by attaching several lines with floats to a raft. In this way a large number are taken iu a very short time. Specimens of this fish have been exhibited in the Aquavlvarium of the Zoological Society, in the Gardens, Regent's Park.
There are several other species, some of which aro said to attain a length of 8 feet, and to bite very severely. Their flesh generally is wholesome. (Yarrell, British. Fishes; Cuvier, Mune' Animal.)