The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-10-31
AMONG THE SWORD-FISH.

There was probably no happier or
more expcctant boy than myself when
ono warm July afternoon jumped
from New London dock O. tho deck
OF the fishing schooner Kate.
/ was 10 take months sword fish !
ing trip along the New England coast
with Capt Mead and his crew OF four.
and ! was happy over just having
been released from school and the en-
joyable outing in anticipation.
The tide and the wind wero both
favorable and soon we were making
our wny down tho harbor md before
shutdown were we'll on our course TO
Block Island.
The kate's cabin might have been
distasteful TO somc boys, for Il wa,
ulcarpeted. had little furniture. but
instead q very pronounced smell OF
fish and biige water; but | was not
particular and always too sleepy when
turned in 20 be affected bY such sur
roundings.
The next afternoon we captured our
first fish, Capt Mead stood In a small
iron framework on the bow-sprit with
his spear in hand or resting across
the pulpit as il was termed
The spear consisted OF long wood.
en- stick one end OF which was inserted
into an iron dart Attached 90 an eye
in the dart was o line which ran at 20
"A small rel keg around which it Was
wound
Bill Mead the captains son. was
nloft IN the rigging on the lookout "
When be sighted Il sword-dsh he would
direct the man at the tiller how TO
steer TO approach him. and when the
bow wis "clos't ontcr him. as the
captain would say no threw the spear
at the fish these throw heinv little
more however. than heavy lab.
III the ilsh was struck the captain
would sing out 10 the man at tho tilcr
Throw over the keg. al the same time
withdrawing the spear while the fsh
would go speeding away with the dart
deep in his flesh, dragging the kc-
after him.
Alter what fish that were in tho
vicinity were spcared or frightened
away the captain and one OF the men
would embark In dory and locating
the victims by the buoys would row
up TO them one by one and making the
line fast to.the dory would row them TO
the schooner. They were hoistcd on
deck By "a tackle. cleaned packed in
chopped leo and stored away below.
They averaged about 800 pounds Ia
weight and had long. pointed sword
projecting from thoir upper jaw. The
captain informed mo that they came
from Mediterranean waters. swimming
hack across the ocean each fall and
That when Infatuated and wild with
pain from the dart would often attack
dories and even vessels by running
their swords through their bottoms or
sides.
The timo sped swiftly and rapidly.
We made many harbors along the
coast and the captain always took me
ashore and pointed out the places OF
interest We passed ocean steamers.
ships and schooners. tugs and coasters
] caught huge cod and haddock. and
delicate mackoral passed hours aloit
chatting with the lookout took re-
frc-hing dives from the bowsprit OF
the Kate ate moro heartily and slept
more peacefully than ever can again
and en-. Dyed each moment with boy.
hoods hearty zest
We had been out over three weeks
and were on the eastern coast Of
Maine. and in two more days the cap
tain WAS 10 sct westerly course and
run 20 far Iiarb0r. where, much to my
regret ! was to join my parents.
Tho next mornlng dawned bright
and plcusanL but By noon there werc
signs that heavy fox banks, 80 common
oil that coast would surround Us be
fore night
The iog held on. however. and soon
the probability OF It's approach was
forgotten by all hands for we were IN
the midst OF tho grcntest number OF
swordhsh any man on board had ever
seen together An was excitement
The schooner was ransac'Scd for extra
darts and kegs aud buoy lines were
impr0vised There was hardly a sail
ing breeze yct Ia two hours seventeen
swordfish were within radius OF two
miles OF ua. each attached to keg
buoy.
When tho work OF picking them up
began launched a light twelve foot
dory. aud getting In. padded lelsurely
about 90 tho smooth surface observ-
ing the moecmcnts Of the men My