Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1892-08-17
HARPooNlNe swoRpElsH.
How tn. Terrible ocean Monster. A

/
How the Terrible Ocean Monsters ARD
| TakOR.
A swordfish, when swim ming near
the surface, usually allows its doBsaI fin
and a portion of its tail to project out OF
water. 1t is this babia which enables
the fishermen to tell when the game is
present. The creatvrsTnoves SLOWLY
under ordinary condi6e1s, and the FISH.
ing schooner with a hSAt bree1s finds
no difficulty in overtakaax II
When alarmed, hews-ez, IT exhibits
enormous strength and agility. Some
times it seems to leap 0Htfrely out OF
water. It's long, 1.-the, n1siscxlar body,
with fins snugly fittiag into grooves, is
admirably adapted for the most rapid
movement through the water Erof.
Richard Owen, testifyng in an English
court respecting It's pSysss, said
THE swordfish at fnn speed stTikes
with the accumulated force of ffteen
hammers swung with both hands. It's
velocity is equal to thst Of swivel shot,
and the shock is as dangerous in its
effects as that of heavy artille4y pro-
jectile."
The swordfish never comes to the sur
face except in modSHte weather, .ae-
cOrding to DIR. G. BreEn Geode. yes
sci pursuing them has always man
stationed at the MASTHEAD. whese, with
the keen eye which pa,aetice has given
him, he can easily descsE the tellkale
back fins at distance Of two or three
miles
When the prey is sighted the watch
gives a shout and the erak is steered in
the direction indicated. The skipper
takes his place in a sort Of 'nnlpit," So
called, at the end of ths-bewsprit, armed
with harpoon which haS detachable
head He holds Pele which forms the
handle of the weapon with both hands,
directing the man at the wheel by voice
and gesture how to stssY
There is no difHenlty in approaching
the intended victims With vessel of
some size, although. spyiously enough,
they will not suffer a aanail boat to come
near them.
Although there we<Ad be no difficulty
in bringing the end Of tle howsprit di-
rectly over the fish, a s&Sillful harpooner
never waits for this. When the prev is
from six to ten feet in front Of the yes
sci it is struck
The harpoon is never thrown, the
pole being long enough to enable the
expert to punch the dart into the back
of the animal close to the back fin,
When the dart has thus been fastened
to the fish, the line attached to it is al
lowed to run out, the rope being re-
tanned in the hand. AS soon as the pole
has run as far as the stricken creature
will carry it, the line is passed into the
small boat which is towing at the
stern.
Two men jump into the boat and pull
upon the line until the fish is brought
alongside, when it is killed with the
whale lance struck into the gills Then
it is lifted upon the deck of tho vessel
with tackle,
The pursuit of the sword-fish is much
more exciting than ordinary fishing, re-
sembling, as it does, the hunting of
large animals upon land, and partaking
more of the nature of the chase. There
is no slow and careful batting and pa
tient waiting in this pursuit
The game is seen and followed, out
witted by wary tactics and killed by
skill and strength of arm. There is al
ways danger from SO formidable an
antagonist. Not only is the vessel more
or less likely to be attacked by the in
furiated animal, but there is some peril
to the fishermen themselves.
Sometimes their boatisthrust through
with the sword, which is a most tire
meDdous weapon, and on occasions per-
sons have been killed in the water by
the angry prey. However, this only
renders more interesting the sport,
which is said to be one of the most fas-
cinating in the weEld.
Old fishermen engaged ia it as bust
ness have been known 30 fish for sword
fish all night in their dreams, bruising
their hands and skinHiHtg their knuekles
against the top OF their berths while
spearing the imaginary monsters Min
neapohs Times.