The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-18
RISKY WORK IS swORDFIsHING.
The Massachusetts Fishermen Al
ways Find II So.


man to all purposes, and crazy sword
ish is just as dangerous as an ugly whale.
He swings his horn sword with such ven
geance that it is as wicked a weapon to
face as blade of heavy steel. He doesn't
jab, but slashes with a twisting. saving
motion like a fail full of business. In
3O0-pound fish the sword is about three
feet long. parallel to the surface Of the
water on its fiat side. 1t it not sharp al
the point, nor are the edges keen. Rather
the contrary This sword appears to be
furnished with thousands of sharp pro-
jections like saw teeth, almost invisi-
BILE to the eye.
The swordfish has a head somewhat like
that of shark, and its mouth Is nearly as
uncanny. The sharp hooked teeth are
wanting, yet the swordhshs big eyes and
gaping mouth, surmounted by the wicked
sword, make a combination very I'M
pleasant TO run up against.
In Edgartown the other day there were
landed thirty-five swordhsh, ranging in
weight from 100 to 400 pounds. Edgar
town is the base of operation for sword
fishing as IL is, in fact, for every kind
of fishing carried on in nearby sound
and ocean. The town was at one time
port much frequented by whale ships.
There are today three vessels fitted out
for that industry tied up TO the wharves.
Nature mas given EuSdrlOW0 a Spleuulu
harbor with openings into Vineyard Sound
and the broad Atlantic. The ocean OPEN
ing was ripped through the beach during
a great gale some years ago, and the pas
sage is of much importance TO small craft
in the 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 We
locity AS the south side of the vineyard
is exposed to the ocean, there is an eter-
nal surf pounding the beach. At times its
energy is terrific, and the white breakers
stream along the sands in a furious pro-
cession that no boat can ride with safety.
The most approved boat now used in
swordhshing is the cat, though steamers,
schooners, and sloops are engaged in the
business. A Cape Cod catbOat is, after ALL
about as safe a craft as one can use, es-
pecially when handled by men who have
made a living by sailing them from boy
hood.
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 in the song, they always come back.
1t is many years since catboat has turn
ed turtle and lost lives. But 1t must be re-
membered that the boats are not traps,
such as are so frequently met in yachting
centers. 1t is a question If these Vine
yarders would accept one out of ten cat
boats moored at City Point, Boston, as a
gift.
Nearly all of these swordfshlng boats
are built on Cape Cod. They are high
sided and able to degree. The usual
| length is % feet, with beam of about 10
or II feet. The cabin is a feature
that is Indispensable. Sucn a craft costs
| to build about $3.50, and her owner US
ually dies of old age before the boat
goes out of commission to be broken up.
In many cases he borrows money to buy
| her, and is years in paying back the
obligation. She is a part of his business
capital, and he keeps her in prime con-
dition.
These able craft are very comfortable
homes. There is about four feet of head
room in the cabin, and they are well sup
piled with blankets and mattresses. A
four-burner oil stove is dashed at the
foot of the mast, and the cooks galley
is a surprise in it's simplicity. In rough
! weather the stove is operated with just
enough kerosene to give heat, while a
meal is in preparation. A tank filled
with oil would SPILL and, perhaps, set
the boat on fire. Timed meats are the
staple put aboard for a cruise, and pilot
bread is always had. ten-gallon water
keg, a scant stock of medicine, oilslSins,
compass, and necessary gear, and COM
plete boatswains locker are among the
| necessities that no boat goes to sea lack
ing.
The iron that kills the swordhsh when
properly directed is a rod affixed to
pole At the end of the rod the barb-a
piece Of metal with lanyard-is attached.
When the iron is sent into the fish
yank on the pole disengages it, the pole
is withdrawn, and the barb, with its
line, remains fast in the flesh of the fish.
To the line is fastened gaily painted
key which serves as float TO locate
tho fish he S1VirnS aWaV from his tor
mentors.
whaIeboat. when assaulting a levia-
than is towed by the whale till the big
creature is tired out. gives up its strug-
giles to escape, and is eventually killed
with the lance The swordfish is anowed
to tow the float, and the boat chases
him to the end. Nearly every catboat in
the business is fitted with boWsprit
fashioned from a wide, stout plank, with
a stay running from the masthead TO race
of the stem at the water line. Al the
end Of this bowsprit is a board so braced
that a man may stand at ease upon II
while darting the iron. The ARRANGEMENT
is known as the pulpit, and the smart IS
usually dashed to the stand so as TO be
convenient when needed.
Swordhsh swim very near the surface
of the water in pursuit Of food. They
eat fish and are downright murderers
among the finny tribes. II is seldom that
they swallow food without first killing.
When in the midst Of a school the sword
fish does wonderful execution. slashing the
water into foam with a wide. swinging
sweep that would break a mans back.
There is not the slightest suggestion OF a
thrust IN the motion. series OF light
ning-likes sweeps is their method OF as
sault.
The boatmen easily see the swordhsh az
he rolls along the surface. The curved
back I'm and tail furnish a mark that can
be discerned a long distance. II there IS
sufficient wind the boat can be brought
over the fish 20 as to throw the iron with
a fair degree Of certainty, but In a calm
IL 81 "a ease Of watch ana wait Some
tin,eF the men 20 after the fish la a tender.
III one la "a hand. yet as a rule they prefer
10 wait for wind, - that the nsh, when