New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-02
TAKING SUORDFISH OFF BLOCK ISLAND
A STRANGE AND EXCITING SPORT INTO WHICH
VISITORS ARE INITIATED

STRANGE AND EXCITING SPORT INTO WHICH
VISITORS ARE INITIATED
When the buehsh are not running In numbers
an the sea bass refuse rise the inhabitants ana
visitors on Block Island set out on strange ana
exciting sport on a sunny day after a savage
northeast storm while the long restless swes are
still canned with white scores Of small schooners
and sloops will be seen putting out OF the harbors'
They are hunting the svNrllfsh This curious game
haunts the warm waters OF the Gulf stream from
Nova Scotia to Virginia. Sea birds ana smaller
fish of all kinds fall victims to the keen blade OF
the swordnsh He swims near the surface with his
big triangular dorsal fin projecting into the air
and his sharp saw-toothed sword ceaving the winter
in front Rising suddenly In a flock OF WIG geese
or ducks he will thrash right and LETT Win I'M,
dread weapon and XIII dozen or more before Inc
panic-stricken things can fly. Bottoms of boats
IRE often perced by this sword and the fish DO not
hesitate TO attack sharks whales AT times
With the Inhabitants s~crdnshing ~ strlc'y "
matter OF business and profitable business III ''''
There is great demand for the fine steaks cut from
these hig-nnned fellows In the markets or Boston.
Portland Providence and New-Lonion The heSh
brings from twenty cents pound in June to ten
, and twelve throush July and August when II Is
most plentiful No lees than 10 vessels are en-
gagged In swordhshng each season along 'he Now
England coast. between the province Oh ''e"-"'''
wick and Long Island
with the summer guests these trips are the most
wildly exciting sport to which they have ever tent
a hand. They ind much to wonder nj In the strong
clumsy fittings OF the little sloop In which they en-
bark The long bowsprf with the hasket-lke iron
pulpit where thu spearnan stands. the heaVy hh"s
and bright painted buoys all new TO them Inc
harpoonsman takes his place In the pulpit ann
shading his eyes with one hand. peers far ahead
into the hcavlng green waves Iong before IN" city
man has been able to anything hut the tossing
..,ar and eail-dotied horizon the watcher has hal
I,od 10 the man at the tlller. and the small craft
! turns and darts of on a new couTs" Inc long rope
| has been shaken loose and the red ana whlte buoy
made fast 10 the further end. ana no" All are
| intent on the eager figure on the bowsprit Then
! the stranger sees Ia" thin. snnky tracks that IN"
| sworinsh leave behind. and mex; he catches a
glimpse Of three II the Dig gray ms crcnS across
! In, bow. Tou-that is the bpwsTnans nainemnwlh
IN. shining lance poised. bends far forward There
is a flash Of syery night ana tneI via nutry OF
| foam. ard bubble whe'e the s"0rdhsh. cut 70 us
| vltaIs has plunged down. Quickly the ten-fhthoin
line is run og and overheard p!unsrS ,le Hny sn1
ored buoy While The novice .yrs u Donp, , an,
dancing along the surface, ne If SURPRISED 'nry no
not start In pursuit That msh,y sooh 49, n
him OUT says the captain, AN thars S"'h'h else
The hesitating stranger Is invited to try his hand
AT happening after Jpe Of fish have been taken
and with fea'. and yet lonsinE to Try IT, ne IA, az.
himself IN The pulpit" ana grasps the heavy lance
| No buck fever ever disconcerts hunter any more
fuses fn him lie hears family the cries Of the cagn
and Tom TO Ma m yer sack sg 'g line ter tH HT
| He sees az in "A dream the waves ana TIE foam me
bg hsh bearing down ana men ne ,h n M
nuts i'm the stroke and he draws back the wooden
shaft he sees the scething circle wis're MS prey
| sank down and hears Toms hearty 'poo' ST.
mighty we'll putt . l., AL, . ,
,imes Iinnumb. red have cnraged swordnsh attacked
| and sunk fishing craft with the land twenty or
| thirty miles below the horizon and no boats near
| the thought Of being preached by sword Is 10
| happy fancy. ,, ,,. ,, ,,osso,,
| canture and one sometimes. cruising on the shoals
| where a big school OF them are feeding. sees al
| around him the brlght-painted buoyS green ana
| uhitc blue and yellow, black ana white. ana req
and gray all coOrs and all DEVICES each belonging
| ,n some different schooner. Long before dark the
| york Of harvesting the dead begins The Keen
| e,,ee ~ the old hands AT the business can tell sew
| oral hundred yards away their own buoys Ihey
| also know many Of the others. "rhars ther Molly
as az oInnw.Hedford or Here's the John Belts OF
| Wartha's VINEYARD" they will call as they pass the
| familiar cOlOrs. a, , ,.... a,a.,
| When on a long cruise the vessels always stand
| ny and finish of each fish as soon an he weakens
| and drag him aboard for fear Of having to go out
~ ,hoir course or return To pick him up II left to
| die The fish weigh from 200 10 40 pounds. though
| g, is rare TO take one OF 300 The huge game
after being hauled aboard Il packed below deck IN
| ice Occa siona.y a sioop will come In with twenty
ar more and this ~ considered great luck and or
| course means good money TO IN" fisherman me
weather is often very rough so far outside ana me
| sworJnsherman must be prepared 10 weather the
,'nrst storms on the II any thinks he has
| axn.rienced the most thrilling moments or enjoyed
| the greatest fun in landing arpon In Florida, or
| snIuon in Canada let him on any windy day. when
| the swells are running high on the shoals ana the
| soaguls flying low. cling to the spray-dripplhg
| howsnr,t Of a lt.lc smack and harpoon Block
u