270 Percomorphi 



The swordfish follows the schools of mackerel to the New 

 England coasts. "Where you see swordfish, you may know 

 that mackerel are about," Goode quotes from an old fisherman. 

 The swordfish swims near the surface, allowing its dorsal fin 

 to appear, as also the upper lobe of the caudal. It often leaps 

 out of the water, and none of all the fishes of the sea can swim 

 more swiftly. 



"The pointed head," says Goode, "the fins of the back and 

 abdomen snugly fitting into grooves, the absence of ventrals, 

 the long, lithe, muscular body, sloping slowly to the tail, fit 



FIG. 212. Swordfish, Xiphias gladius (Linnseus). (After Day.) 



it for the most rapid and forcible movement through the water. 

 Prof. Richard Owen, testifying in an England court in regard 

 to its power, said: 



"'It strikes with the accumulated force of fifteen double- 

 handed hammers. Its velocity is equal to that of a swivel-shot, 

 and is as dangerous in its effects as a heavy artillery projectile.' 



"Many very curious instances are on record of the encoun- 

 ters of this fish with other fishes, or of their attacks upon ships. 

 What can be the inducement for it to attack objects so much 

 larger than itself it is hard to surmise. 



" It surely seems as if a temporary insanity sometimes takes 

 possession of the fish. It is not strange that, when harpooned, 

 it should retaliate by attacking its assailant. An old sword- 

 fish fisherman told Mr. Blackford that his vessel had been 

 struck twenty times. There are, however, many instances of 

 entirely unprovoked assault on vessels at sea. Many of these 

 are recounted in a later portion of this memoir. Their move- 

 ments when feeding are discussed below, as well as their alleged 

 peculiarities of movement during the breeding season. 



