New-York tribune., 1905-06-04
EXCITING SPORT Is SWORDFISII CATCHING.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS G-flfY DENIzEN OF THE
SEA-MARKET FOR THE FISH.

being struck can be readily followed until 1t is
dead
Armed with such a terrible weapon as its
sword and gifted with amazing powers of speed
the animal has no enemy to fear but man. III
has a habit OF lying quietly near the surface,
with it's big, black dorsal fin waving gracefully
to and fro in the air, and often the tail IS al
most as conspicuous. A man stationed on the
lookout platform at the masthead is watch
ing for the appearance of the fin, and When
it is discovered the steersman is warned and
sends the vessel in the direction indicated
Care must be exercised by the lookout not to
lose sight of the small speck just visible to his
practsed eye as it would not be easy to PICK
it up again when once lost. AS quietly as pos
sibIe the vessel is run close behind the fish,
Sometimes the fish sees her and quickly sinks
himself out of sight. When the bowsprit is
within twenty or thirty feet of 1t the harpooner
hurts his weapon with skiful ana poWerIuI
hand into the fishs back The dart dlsiodges
itself from the shaft, which is hauled back to
! the vessel by means of the line attached 10 II,
and the stricken fish goes off at tremendous
rate of speed AS soon as the fish is struck the
buoy tied to the rope which is attached 70 the
dart is thrown overheard. Then away II sans
sometimes out of sight and at other times SKIM
ming the water and making the roam ny as II
dasnes along In the course OF time the hSh
tires himself that sailor puts OUT IN doIy
and picks up the cask. Then ne hduiS sloWiy
on the rope and gently brings his eaten 70 the
top. If the fish is ugly there is opportunity Tor
a lot of trouble. When brought near enough
no ic lanced until dead The vessel is then run
alongside the tackle attached to its mouth ana
the fish hoisted aboard. , .. ..s
When angered, the swordhSh, OWING 10 lts
great strength and terrible weapon. is aole ana
anxious to inflict serious damage upon lts per
secutors. Many instances have been repor'gu g
where it has attacked vessels and boats In
1871 the English ship Queensberry was ST. ueh
by q swordf1sh, the sword penetrating 10 uepsn
of thirty inches. causing a leak whlch mace
tbe discharge of the cargo OHe VI
the Gloucester fishing schooners, Whlle on
trip to Georges Banks in 1850, was attacke9
by a swordfish in the night time. He assalleo
the vessel with great force, and succeeded IN put
ting his sword through one OF the pianks soIle
two feet, and, after making 1eartul as o
to extricate himself. broke the sword OH, leaVls
it hard and fast in the plank, and maze SPECIFY
departure. Even with the sword IN the VesseI
leaked bady requiring pretty liVey pulnPs o1e So -
keen her free The brig p. NJ Tinker IN 1910 was
struck by swordish. The sword penetrated
the copper sheathing four-incn pirCm L.eiih M
all about ten inches. The crew had to pump
steadily until port was reached.
In September 1903 the Gloucester fishing
schooner Emily Cooney had exciting en-
counter with a swordish. While going through
the South Channel three swordfsh were espleu'
and the vessel ran down among lhelh ana ono one
was harpooned Immediately another monster
fish appeared At first he made off at tangent
from the craft and then as II fe, YES
sell He first tried to reach the man IN tnS
pulpit" but being unable to do SO, ne charged
at the vessel and, diving about tnree Ieet peloM %
the surface, struck the craft with sucn IorCe orr
that the sword penetrated the two and one-haif
inch oak plank into the ceiling and foot of the
blade was broken Off The ploW was leIl an
over the vessel. One of the crew below had just
moved from where he was sitting, and moment
later the sword was driven directly through the
enot where he sat The vessel began to leak
and the captain decided to run for port When
put on the marine railways it was found that
the plank pierced by the sword had been oaoiS
shattered. :,
Boston is the chief market for swordfish, al
though New-York is handling more and more
each wear as the taste for the fish develops IL
fs crt m into steaks. which retail from to
% cents pound, according to the supply. win win
a good sauce the flesh is excellent. but without
tbfs II is rather dry The marketmen claim
| that If is at its best article OF food when
| # has been on the ice at least two weeks.