Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-01

the SWOTuuSIl IL OiiC Va Tic hioSA NiNaNN
denizens of the sea. On many occasions
the whale has felt his sharp weapon ana
has been glad to turn tail and run. Be-
fore the fleet has finished its swordfshing
operations this season the fishermen Will
have many thrilling experiences TO relate.
as they have in seasons past.
Up in the pulpit at the end of the bow
spirit the harpoonist stands. His weapon
has a sharp-poin.ed barb at the end, to
which is made fast a stout warp. Unless
the fish are frightened 1t Is not difficult
to get into the midst of a school as they
swim slowly around in circles. The fins
show just above the surface. When one
comes within range Of the man in he
pulpit he hurls his barb. The handle
comes off and is pulled back by the lance
man. but the barb with the warp at
tached remains in the flesh. To the other
end of the warp is attached q keg, which
is thrown overheard
A dory is put over and the men in that
begin the chase of the bobbing keg. The
barb never kills the fish. 1t takes lance
to do that. Once the dorymen reach the
keg they begin hauling it in. gradually
firing out the quarry until they get him
to the surface, when the lance is thrust
into the gills and the fish killed. strap
is then buckled around his tail and when
the schooner comes up he is hoisted
aboard He is cleaned. scrubbed of blood
and dirt and packed solidly in ice in the
hold. This operation is repeated until a
full fare is obtained OF anywhere from
twenty five to one hundred fish, when
they are taken to market.
All this sounds easy. but angry
swordish is a tough customer. He may
range from 100 to 1000 pounds and the
length of his sword does not depend on
his size. 1t generally averages about
three feet in length. 1t is a terrible
weapon II its owner has room in which
to use it. 1t grows straight out from the
head. and when the swordfish strikes
anything with 1t he has the entire weight
of its body back OF it. Prof. Richard
Owen once testified in English court.
1T strikes with the accumulated force
OF fifteen double headed hammers. Its
velocity Is equal to that of swivel shot
and is as dangerous in its effects as i
heavy artillery protectile.
When first struck by the barD tne
swordfish will sometimes charge directly
for the bottom. hitting its sword with
such force that il breaks ii OF. Geiier-
ally. too, is the iish's neck broken by tue
impact. So, too. when the inIuriateu se
duelist charges a vessel or uofs. i-iss
season the schooner Albert w. Black oI
Portland began to leak from some neon
csdyabie cause The leak became So bad
that Capt. Doughty put into Gloucester
and hauled out. Then broken-on SWORD
from a swordfish was found sticking IN
the schooner's bottom. The weapon had
gone through two inches OF solid white
oak and two and one-half inches oil nara
pine ceiling. Gu.
Last season Jean Noonan OF south
Portland twice had the experience OF SIT
ting in a dory and seeing three feet OF
sword crash through the bottom direcuy
In front of him--once SO close that inc
sharp weapon just grazed his ieg. IN
each case the fish was killed by q broken
neck. such was the force with when ne
brought up on the bottom OF the oory
Noonan declared the frail craft was a.
most lifted from the water.
Not so lucky WAS Joel silva OF 5roN
incetown. similarly situated I'm dory.
The sword struck one Of his legs sewer;
ing a big artery, and causing q wouhu
which eventually caused the death OF the
Portuguese fisherman
Tragic. too was the death OF Ernest
GIedhilI on the Georges Banks lew
seasons ago. The fish had been struck