Archaeological Investigations at Yourhaney Plantation (38GE18)

166Gar is another primitive fish that inhabits backwaters. The gar, like the bowfin, also has amodified gas bladder that allows it to dwell in stagnant water (McClane 1978: 178). Small areasof water are capable of holding large populations of gar. This is due to the fact that gar spendmuch of their time stationary and therefore do not require as much nourishment as more animatedspecies. It has been estimated that 317.5-453.6 kg of gar can inhabit an acre of water with2,000 individuals harvested from a 91.4-meter section of canal (McClane 1978: 178).Longnose gar is the most common gar species. This species reaches a maximum length of 1.8 mand weighs up to 23 kg (Gilbert and Williams 2002: 88; McClane 1965: 498). This gar inhabitsreservoirs, lakes, large creeks, and backwaters, but unlike the alligator gar, it only rarely entersareas of brackish water (Gilbert and Williams 2002: 88). Of the five species of gar, the longnosegar is the most tolerant of currents and swims and feeds in areas of medium current (McClane1965: 498). This species grows extremely fast, reaching 48 to 56 cm in the first year of life(McClane 1965: 498).Channel catfish is found in ponds, lakes, rivers, and large creeks that have a slow to moderatecurrent (Gilbert and Williams 2002: 178). Yellow bullheads favor ponds, pools, backwaters, andsluggish streams with heavy vegetation (Gilbert and Williams 2002: 176). This species feeds atnight (Gilbert and Williams 2002: 176). Brown bullheads are intolerant of silty water and inhabitclear, deep pools that have thick aquatic vegetation (Gilbert and Williams 2002: 177). Whitecatfish prefer ponds, pools, medium to large creeks and rivers with slow currents (Gilbert andWilliams 2002: 175). Saltwater varieties of catfish (Ariidae) include hardhead catfish (Ariopsisfelis) and gafftopsail catfish (Bagre marinus) (Gilbert and Williams 2002: 185-6). These speciesinhabit shallow coastal waters, bays and estuaries (Gilbert and Williams 2002: 186).Perciformes are generally found in torpid waters. Included in this group are largemouth bass(Micropterus salmoides), black crappie (Pomoxis nigormalculatus), redear sunfish (Lepomismicrolophus), spotted sunfish (Lepomis punctatus), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), and warmouth(Chaenobryttus gulosus). Most of these species require the heavier vegetation found in suchenvironments for defense and sustenance. Spawning for these species takes place from April toJune (McClane 1978: 118-171).Drum (Sciaenidae) primarily inhabit saltwater except for one species (Aplodinotus grunniens),which is found in freshwater along the Mississippi River drainage (Gilbert and Williams 2002:426). Saltwater varieties are bottom dwellers and live close to shore over mud or sand floors(Gilbert and Williams 2002: 426). Members of this family feed on fish, oysters, and crustaceans(Gilbert and Williams 2002: 425-438).INVERTEBRATE FAUNAL REMAINSBivalves were represented by oyster and clam shell. Most of the individuals are of an edible sizeand would have provided an easily obtainable food source.The eastern oyster lives in water 10 to 40 feet (3 to 12 meters) deep with a hard or soft bottom andprefers areas of low salinity (Rehder and Carmichael 1981: 563). This species of bivalve providesan easily obtainable and predictable food resource to peoples both past and present.