The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-10-07
HARPOONING SWORDFISH.

The rare aud thrilling sport, and
lucrative business too, along the coast
just now is shat of killing swordfsh,
says Norwich Comp correspondent.
To chase and harpoon swoIdish was
until less tnan half dozen years ago the
sport exclusively of summer idlers
at the seashore watering places; but
since the world has learned to like the
flesh of these armed pirates of the ocean
many long shore fishermen have found
it prCfita Bile to hunt them for the New
England markets. New York alone
either has not tasted this fish for food
or else rejects it, and it is said that not
a sword fish finds its way to metropol-
itan tables. In New England, however
it is esteemed second in merit only to
blue fish, and thick, savory, white
Juicy swordfish steak is rated far more
highly than halibut steak. The fish
are hunted in deep waters, about twenty
or thirty miles southeast of Block Island
along the inner edge of the Gulf Stream.
To these waters little fleet OF sword
fisherman's smacks and sailboats bound
away from the gray old port of Stoning
ton, in the southern part of this country,
once or twice week and return a few
days later, their decks piled with the
long, rak ish bodies of from fifteen to
forty swordfish, each weighing from $50
to 400 pounds. The biggest fellows
taken off the coast sometimes weigh 600
pounds, and rarely one is taken that
weighs 500. Most OF the fish are shipped
direct to Boston, and one day. this week
not less chan sixty-four fish, each weigh
ing from $50 to 400 pounds were sent
to that market from New London alone
Block Island alone also sends out a
swordfsh fleet which makes handsome
catches, and Captain Frank Dodge, of
the island, has successfully used steam
yacht in hunting them this week He
took twenty seven big fellows on his
first trip.
There is plenty of peril as well as hot
excitement in taking one of the giants
since, mad with pain and rage, it often
turns upon the harpooner, who goes out
from his vessel in a rowboat to deal the
| finishing stroke to the one that has been
| harpooned after it has exhausted itself
| in furious rushes about the sea and not
untrequently it drives its sharp, slender
sword through the craft, and sometimes
impales the boatman. A few days ago
a swordfish smashed a Stonington row
boat belonging to the Matte and Lena
vessel and barely missed piercing the
| body of its owner, who leaped swiftly
astern. Several Block Island fishermen
| have felt the thrust OF sworGfish' S
weapon in their limbs and no longer ago
than last summer 400-pounder drove
his sword through an islanders frail
craft and pinned him by L thrust
through his hip to his boats side. Three
years ago an islander was killed in the
rush Of one Of the fish. The sword was
driven up through the bottom of the
craft and it pierced the mans abdomen.
Nevertheless. it is fine sport to hunt the
big fellows, and the city guests at the
southern Connecticut resorts and at
Block Island are not content until they
have participated in a swordfsh hunt.
Swordtish are the natural guerllas of
the sea. They are ready to attack any
thing that swims, even sea fowl atlOat;
they glide stealthily upon their prey,
their black fin alone showing above the
surface of the ocean, aud ill battle they
use their sword, not to pierce their
victim as a rule, but to deal swinging,
slashing, blows above aud below water
exactly as trooper brandishes his sabre.
They cut to pieces school of fish or a
cOvey of birds in a few seconds, and
often broad patches of the ocean are
Redeemed with the blood of their victims.
Like the black bass, they slaughter more
game than they can hope to devour, and
after they have completed conquest,
they fall to aud greedily gorge themselves
with the fruits of it. They hunt men
haden or mossbunkers more especially.