A common joke that comes with freshwater lakes is that they are superior to the saltwater because they are "shark-free." While indeed many ponds and rivers can rest easy knowing they don't have razor-toothed flesh eating fish within them, that comfort cannot be given to all freshwater bodies. One must remember that every ecosystem has its predators, with issues only arising when they get too big or aggressive. Yes, the lakes don't have sharks, but they have other fish that some would consider even worse...
The native Americans knew quite well where log gars could be found. It was in waters where their canoes were chewed into splinters. This is because log gars possess a nasty set of serrated teeth and an incredible aggression towards wooden objects. Log gars are carnivorous fish, using their long toothy jaws to shred prey. While they will happily eat whatever they come across, it should be noted that their primary prey are beavers. This is where their saw-like teeth come into play, as these weapons help rip through beaver dens and dams so that they can get at the morsels behind the wooden walls. A lifestyle of devouring beavers has led to the species developing a link between food and wood, where chewing through wooden objects inevitably leads to meat. While this does lead to them attacking fallen branches, their beliefs were validated when man and his wooden boats came to their waters.
The natives of these regions learned this lesson, and so would others who came. Canoes of wood and birch bark were seen as targets, and the log gar's teeth sawed through them with ease. Torn open by these eager fish, the boats would sink and leave the floating men inside at the mercy of these gar. To no surprise, quite a few folk were devoured by the log gar. Even loggers who floated their products down the river fell to these nasty fish, who detected the presence of meat atop it all. Many attempts were made to be rid of these terrors, but the log gar is no easy foe. Their bodies are covered with hard scales coated in dentine, which can repel spear and hook. Attempts to stab them often fail, and their razor teeth mean hook and line is easily severed. Nets are torn to ribbons and any more extreme efforts would jeopardize the rest of the aquatic life within. Even if someone were to master a way to catch them, their populations are high enough that it would be impossible to deplete them by hand.
Even as nasty as they are, natives did occasionally succeed in catching these fish or finding dead ones. Those that they could harvest would have their scales used as arrowheads and shielding, while their jaws made fine makeshift saws. Log gar meat is seen as disgusting, due to its composition and their propensity to swallow a whole lot of sawdust during their feeding frenzies. Their hard scales also make them a pain to fillet, though they may help make your knife sharper!
Log gars proved to be a menace in many lakes, causing quite a few to be marked off limits for water sports and other recreational activities. When man started to switch from wood to fiberglass, the attacks on these vessels lessened. The few log gar that made the mistake of attacking these ships often perished after swallowing chunks of fiberglass, leading to a painful demise. While this does make water travel safer against these fish, it still isn't recommended in some areas due to the possibility of someone falling in. Even if your boat doesn't sink, an accidental tumble into the water can end in a bloody demise.
Though hated and feared by many, often considered pests and menaces, the log gar does get its rare times to shine. Their scales make for neat jewelry, and one renowned power tool company has one as their mascot. They are also highly valued as fishing trophies, due to the extreme difficulty to catch one and the fact that many older larger specimens remain around today. And who could forget the charming children's safety scissors made to look just like them?
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