Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-05-20
Concerning Swordflsh,

The swordfish is considered very GOOD
eating by some, though the flesh is
coarse, and there is a rank fish taste
that /, for one, do not like. But for
ms purpose he should be caught young
There is quite an industry in southern
New England devoted to swortlfishing.
The swordfish never comes to the sur
face except in moderate weather, and
the small vessels cruise around near
shore In the summer whenever abund-
ance of food indicates that they ought
to be found. A man at the masthead
keeps lookout for the dorsal fin,
which, with his keen, practiced eye he
can see at distance of two or three
miles. When one is sighted the watch
sings out and the skipper takes his
station in the bow in the pulpit with
the harpoon in his hands. When the
vessel is within ten feet of the fish il is
struck, not by hurting the spear, but by
a sudden plunge which buries the iron
head into the flesh ON one side of the
high dorsal fin. The pursuit of the
swordiish is much more exciting than
ordinary fishing, for it resembles the
hunting OF large animals upon the land,
and partakes more of the nature of the
chase. There is no slow and careful
batting and patient waiting. and no
disappointment caused by the acct
dental capture of worthless 'bait-
stealers. The game is seen and fol-
lowed and outwitted by many tactics,
and killed by strength of arm and skill.
Inc swordilsh is powerful antagonist,
and often sends his pursuer's vessel into
harbor leaking and almost sinking.
have known vessel to be struck by
wounded swordiish as many as twenty
times in one season. There is ever the
spice of personal danger to give SAVIOR to
the chase, for men are occasionally in
lured by the Infatuated fish. One man
was severely wounded by swordlish
who thrust his beak through the oak
floor OF boat on which he was stand
ing and penetrated about two inches in
his heel. A strange fascination draws
men to the pursuit when they have once
learned its charm. An old fisherman
who had followed swordtishing for
twenty years said that when he was on
the cruising ground he often flshed ali
night in his dreams, and many time
he has bruised his hands and rubbed
the skin off his knuckles by striking
them against the ceiling of his bunk
when he raised his arms to thrust the
harpoon into visionary monster sword
fishes.
The pugnacity of the swordfish has
become n by word, and many are the
instances of furious attacks and deadly
encounter of which this fish is the hero.
A most curious case came up before the
Court of Common Pleas in London some
years ago-rather an odd place, by the
way-for inquiry into the natural his
tory of fishes. An English vessel, the
Dreadnaught, was fishing in the open
sea, when one of the crew hooked a
swordiish. Ziphias, however, broke the
line, and a few moments after leaped
half out of the water, with the object, it
should seem, of taking look at its per-
secutor. Probably he satisfied himself
that the enemy was some abnormally
large cetacean, which it was his natural
duty to attack forthwith. Be this as it
may, the attack was made, and at 4
O'Clock the next morning the captain
was awakened with the unwelcome in
telligence that the ship had sprung
leak. The insurance company was
willing to pay the damages claimed by
the owner if it could be proved that the
hole was made by swordfsh. basing
the defense upon the assumption that
swordfish could not withdraw its sword
after once Embedding it. Prof. Richard
Owen said: 1T strikes with the ac-
cumulated force of fifteen double-headed
hammers. Its velocity is equal to that
of a swivel-shot, and is as dangerous in
its effects as a heayy-artillery projectile.
Neither he nor Mr.. Buckland could
state positively whether the fish could
withdraw its beak after passing it
through three inches of stout planking
The swordfish has little backing,
power, but might succeed in ''wriggling
its sword out of the hole" Be this as It
may, the insurance company had to pay
nearly 5000 because an ill-tempered fish
objected to being hooked.