Omaha daily bee., 1895-11-17
WHERE NERVE IS NEEDED
Catching Swordfsh Risky but Fascinating
Sport.
THE OCCUPATION OF OLD wHALERS
scenes ON the Nnssnchusetts Coast
Where the Marine Murdcrcrs
Are Hookcd-skiIi and
Courage Required.

Swordfshing is getting to be a risky hns-
ness, almost as dangerous as the vocation
of freight brakeman. The modern sword
fisherman. says the Boston Herald is a whale
man to all purposes. and crazy" sword
fish is just dangerous as an ugly whale
The former has the very essence Of devlltry
bottled up in his slippery black body. He
swings his horn sword with such vengeance
that 1t is as wicked weapon to face
as a blade Of heavy steel. He doesn't jab,
but slashes with twisting. saving motion.
like fail full of business. In a SEQ pnund fish
the sword is about three feet long, parallel
to the surface of the water on its fiat side
1t Is not sharp at the point, nor are the
edges keen. Rather the contrary. This
sword appears to be furnished with thou
sands OF sharp projections, like saw teeth,
almost invisible to the eye.
The swordhsh has a head somewhat like
that Of shark, and its mouth is nearly az
uncanny The sharp. hooked teeth are want
ing, yet the swordfsh's big eye and gaping
food-hopper, surmounted by the wicked
sword, make combination very unpleasant
to run up against.
Over in Edgartown the other day there
weight from 100 to 400 pounds. Edsartown
is the basis of operations for swordhshermen.
as it is in fact for every kind Of fishing car
ried on In nearby sound and ocean. The town
was at ons time a port much frequented
by whale ships. There are today three YES
sells fitted out for that industry tied up to its
wharves.
Nature has given Edgartown a splendid
harbor, with openings into Vineyard sound
and the broad Atlantic. The ocean opening
was ripped through the beach during a
great gale some years ago, and the passage
is OF much Importance to small craft in ths
fishing business. Deep draught boats cannot
get through it. but most of the smacks
employed draw less than three feet Of water,
and manage to work out with the tide which
has considerable velocity As the south side
of the Vineyard is exposed to the ocean
there is an eternal surf pounding the baach.
At times its energy is terrific and the white
breakers stream along the sands in furl-
Gus procession that no boat can ride with
safety.
The most approved boat now used in sword
fishing is the cat though steamers, schoon-
ers and sloops are engaged in the business
Cape Cod catboat is, after all, about as
safe craft as one can use, especially when
handled by men who have made a living bv
sailing them from boyhood
They are out In all weather hammering
the big waves of the ocean or banging into
the tide rips in the sound, and. like the cat
X,
many years since a catboat has turned turtle
and lost lives through pure cussedness But
1t must be remembered, however that the
boats are not traps. such as are so frequently
met in yachting centers. 1t 10 a question If
these Vineyarders would accept one out of
ten catboats mOored at City Point Boston as
a gift. They would have nothing to do with
craft that some amateur sailors swear by,
and then drown.
Nearly all of these swordfshng boats are
built on Cape Cod. They are high sided and
able to a degree. The usual length ia twen-
ty-five feet, with beam of about ten or
twelve feet. The cabin is feature that is
indispensable. Such craft usually costs TO
build about $3.50 and her owner usually dies
OF old age before the boat goes out of com
mission to be broken up. This boat is almost
as dear to her proprietor as Is his home and
family. In many cases he borrows money
to buy her, and Is years in paying back the
obligation. She Ia part of his business cap
ital. and no wonder he keeps her in prime
condition.
The able craft are very comfortable homes.
There is about four feet of head room in the
cabin, and the transoms are well supplied
with blankets and mattresses r-burner
oil stove is lashsd at the foot of the mast
and the cooks galley is surprise in its
simplicity In rough weather the stove is
operated with just enough kerosene to give
heat, while meal is in preparation. tank
the boat on fire. Timed meats are the
staple put aboard for a cruise, and pilot
bread Is always to be had. A ten-gallon
water keg, compass and necessary gear and
complete boatswan's locker are among the
necessities that no boat goes to sea lacking.
The iron that kills the swordfsh when
properly directed is rod affixed to a pole.
At the end of the rod is a barb--a piece of
metal with lanyard, is attached. When the
iron is sent into the fish a yank on the pole
disengages 1t, the pole is withdrawn, and the
barb, with its line, remains fast in the flesh
of the fish. To the line Is fastened q gaily
painted keg. which serves a float to locate
the fish as he swims away from his tor
mentors.
whaleboat. when assaulting a leviathan,
is towed by the whale till the big creature is
tired out and gives up his struggles to es-
cape and Is eventually killed with the lance.
The swordfsh is allowed to tow the float, and
the boat chases him to the end. Nearly
every catboat in the business is fitted with
a bowsprit, fashioned from a wide, stout
plank, with stay running frcm the mas
head to face Of the stem at the water line.
At the end of this bowsprit is a board so
braced that man may stand at ease upon it
while darting the iron. The arrangement is
known the pulpit, and the shaft is us
ually lashed to the stand, so as to be con-
venient when needed.
Swordfsh swim very near the surface of
tho water in pursuit cf food They eat fish
and are downright murderers among the