Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-07-15

THE sWORDFISH.
From the Nantucket Enquirer.

the SWOFuuSUs tue uotutot She"y vs. wv ""e'Sf
is often taken in this vicinity, and that its flesh
is held in such great estimation BY piscivorous
epicures, il always commands high price In our
fish market. To those who delight n devourng
the inhabitants of the deep slice of this formi-
dable sea warrior affords meal Of great delica-
cy. In shape, the saordfish is nearly cylindrical,
handsomely tspering from the head downwards,
aud terminating IN vide scolloped tail, in
which, as in Samson's hair, lies its chief strength
1t has black and shining skin, without scales,
similar to that Of the spermaceti whale. They
are commonly from 10 to Is feet in length,
weighing FROM 200 to 500 lbs. The sword. as II
is called, or bone, projecting horizontally from
the head, is the principal instrument whlchit EN-
ploys, either as a weapon Of attack, or as means
of procuring food. This - sword" is extreme.
ly hard. with rough, grating surface, some 4 or
6 feet long, 5 or inches in thickness wide, two
edged and through the centre two inches in thick
ness This weapon seems TO answer the pur-
pose Of the swordfish, as cleverly as the trunk
of an elephant subsersss the convenience OF that
sagacious animal.
Instances are quite common Of whales being
found wounded on the under side-douh,less BY
this instrument; and whale ships have frequent'
~ been attacked in like manner. We have seen
a plank taken from the bottom OF a whaler,
through which the sword of one OF these fish had
penetrated, leaving nearly foot inside the yes
sci. and twice that length outside. Unable to
withdraw il, the weapon OF course became Tor
felt. and the head of the adventurous assallant
must have experienced much pain IN parting with
II; for Il was found broken of near ITS junction
with the skal. So tightly did it remain in the
wood, that no nercep,ibIe leak occurred in con-
sequence. though the ship must have had still
considerable portion Of her voyage to ceomp'ish.
From this fact, an itea may be f"rmedof the ire
mendous force exerted by the Swordhsh, BY
means of his peculiarly formed tail, when ascend
ing in a perpendicular direction through the wa
ter
or the habi f this fish. very little has hitherto
been known. An experienced fisherman has late
lv stated to us some facts IN the premises, with
which we were much interested. They live up
on mackerel, or any smaller fish which swim IN
Notwithstanding their prey in most singular
manner. Commencing their pursuit IN round
about s,yle, like some cunning losicians, they
take a wide circuit. gradually lessening the pc.
riphery of their decentralization, and increasing
their speed, until the numerous objects OF their
appetite are huddled into close mass-when the
pursurer bolts for the centre, sinking mnment,
then coming up swiftly, sword hrst, anu com
monty trans6xing three or four victims. some
species OF whales we believe, are IN the hao't "f
surrounding their prey in the same manner
After the Swordhsh has secured one or more OF
the smaller fry, in the mode above related, ne
may be seen with his head partly aboVe water,
eisurely thrashing his prize about, as 1t were IN
play, until the victim is torn in pieces, when and
not before, he sets about devouring 1t secund,rn
ariem. Iif almost every other respect this hsh
appears to evince bot very little sagacl:y. 1t
must indeed be stupid exploit TO stick ones
horn through ships bottom, without the power
OF extraet,on-and the sluggish Indifference with
which they regard the harpoons and lances en-
ployeL against their own Iives-ofen coming as
il were voluntarily TO receive, a second or third
wound. Instead OF going off at full speed To the
ends of the earth. argues no sort Of discretion.
When these fish are brought to market, they
mr.. cut into transverse slices. Of the ordinary
thickness Of a beefsteak-and cooked after any
If the divers fashions applicable to any other
6sh. There Is less bone in the body OF the
sword6sh than in the haibut-the back bone, or
rather centre bone running through without
brancbe. or ribs, from stern To stem. like the
wick.of a candle. Their ewes much larger than
those of the largest whales. We have seen
them, when stripped Of the external coat big
enough TO fill tea cup When hrst taken
from the head, they may be made to answer the
purpose Of q powerful burning glass. With
swprd6sh's eye we once set IRE TO cigar in
le55 than half the time usually required to per-
form that operation by means OF common glass
lens.
One Of these gigantic warriors of the deep
was captured on Saturday last. on the South
shore Of our island, in q manner somewhat re.
markable. He had probably given chase to
some struggling bluefish or 'scuppang (Pausgv,
az the New Workers. call them) which instinc-
lively. fled towards shoal water. where the pur'
suer got aground. when the surf rolled him fur
Their up the strand, subjecting his head and Inns
to exposure 10 another element.
ln this situation he was discovered BY two te.
males in calash from Sasconset. 1t certainly
required some nerve to attack monster OF his
dimensions, grovelling and Aoundering just with.
in his native brine: and the elder Of the two felt
rather djsnclined to engage in such sport But
the younger went manfuAy TO the scratch, and
her companion followed. They took him BY the