Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-10-02
FISHING EXPERIENCES.
How the Block Islanders PurHue the
SWoFdash.

HOW the Block Islanders Purkue the
Sworddsh.
Correspondence Of the New York Sun
II is 10 OF 20 miles southeast of Block
Islsnd, on the hither edge of the gulf
stream, that the fishermen go to do battle
with the sEOrdfsh. 1t Is not dihicult TO
find them. He is always co2stiug there un-
wesriedly, back and forth in the tepid wa
ters of the great stream, hunting all sorts
of fsh in shoals, and even water fowl, at
times, sll of which he rips to pieces with
his sword exactly as a woodsman deals
slanting blows with his sx and trooper
with his saber. All living things that swim
are grist to his mill he Is afraid of none.
He carries his black colors sloft with the
boldness of any pirste-hss black fin, which
slits the surface of the ocean az he glides
along as the coulter of the pillow cuts the
greensward.
But 1t is not by any means life alto
gether of ease and inactivity. cruising for
swordfsh. The great game fish are plsnti-
ful, indeed, and when the sport Is on there
is stress of work and thrilling adventure,
than which there Is none more intense,
more trying, more intrepid. net even that
of hunting the great right whale or sending
pilots in a storm to incoming liners These
rough and ready. bare armed, resoiute, sun
tanned, marine red Inen cruise not for
sport in the fret place, but for spoils and
ready lucre, and every palpita;ing, armed
leyiaihan they hesvs aboard their vessels
means go many pounds of swcrd1sh cut
up into so many steaks at and 10 cents a
pound. The dollar mark is tagged to every
fish.
Almost every one knows how sword6sh
are taken, and that it is srduous and peril
some, but desperately fascinating work to
take them. Almost every one knows that
far out on the bowsprit ofievery swords fish
erman there is little open iron-banded
pulpit" where the hsrpOoner, hsrpoon in
| hand, as his craft ri5ea up to the side of
| his fearless game, which scorns TO fse or
| turn aside from any foe that ssssils him
\ that the hsrpoon is hurled into his side or
1 mat then the monster, furious with pail.
/ and rsgs, bounds away with floating Eeg
/ attached to the dart by fsntboms of rope,
| or pluuges into the northernmost course of
the ocean. The vessel calls after him, like
a tlreless hound on the trail Of fox, and
| the marine hunters hsse only to keep sight
| of him until he has exhausted himself With
| his msd rushss through the esas. When
the time con- =, kOwsv-V-it msy be in
| half an huuT, or 1t be after t7ylcs that tine
for the plucky sesma1 ro deal the flush
| ing stroke 10 the doughty warrior, then, If
| ever, hunter and gsm- s:iert on fairly even
terms In valiant tug-Ot Eer.
The hsrp0oner qai;s tn: vessel In yAEl,
| and with an sX or club or spear pulls HE
| fraii craft over ia- rough waves TO the dy-
| Ing fish 1t may b. tie mar!bund giant is
| bTestbl-ss ami exhausted aud, IL 60, the
hspooner has only.to draw up where he
hA. measured his bulky length upon the
surface OF tho ocean, plunge bic sharp spesT
| into his J. art or brain. IT deal crushing
blow upon his hesd. Bot If the big fello :
is only feinting, ;here likely to be trouble
/ S1lkily aBd waTiiy, but motlonless, hs
| notes the hsrpooers advance. and when the
i latter hiss driven his boat not half a dozen
rods away; an of d sudden the great fish
| arouses himself, shakes the lsthArgy ont o.
his frame and the RFiue OF: Il bis glim-
meriDg syeE, measures the pisce of hir foe
/ for nu instant, then Tn=heE upon him like
s whirlsind. Rarely ever daes be mics his
drive, snd the dsunilsss wGrIIor, with bis
| swift and tinewy skill and nervous sweep
| Of paddles, Is impotent to eysde It, The
i fish. cleeves the waves with the spesd
| and fury of a war horse. a sudden dip be
/ meath the waves, loI he has gonel but the
next instant, the osrsmsB, lsSpiug into the
1 stern OF the craft, hears a great rush Ci
waters. as of submarine volcano beneath
him, and with the HOund Of ripping boa,
timbers. that part with the frsgili,y OF pa.
per, long, slender, brown black, hairy
rspier is driven through the ccckle ahel
from side to aide a. 1.-THE lance of a gal
Looping CossAek had clsft it. Lucky 81 is
indeed, for the boatmRn that be, too, maj
not be In line with the irresisisbls straight
thrust, for IL he is 50 the sharp slendel
bone saber will split him also, ss swlffl,
and easily as cook skswers 8 chicken. I1
stances are not wanting 10 which boat
man has had both bis lrgs spsAred throuel
by the sword Of furious sword6sh suS
himself firmly impSle to the sides Of hi
yswl- Ons Block l.lsnder wAs cleft In ihA
way only lEss summer of Block Islans
sound, and O year or two ago another hun
ter of the marine swOrdsunan was spititS
in bic seat, the blade going up into hi
body, and he died g few dsys later OF th
frightful thrust