SWORD-FISH, SPEAR-FISH AND CUTLASS-FISH. 251 



as he stands on the bowsprit, and this is almost essential to success, 

 although it is possible for an active man to harpoon a fish from this station 

 without the aid of the ordinary frame-work. Not only the professional 

 Sword-fishermen, but many mackerel schooners and packets are supplied 

 in this manner. 



The Sword-fish never comes to the surface except in moderate, smooth 

 weather. A vessel cruising in search of them, proceeds to the fishing 

 ground, and cruises hither and thither wherever the abundance of small 

 fish indicates that they ought to be found. Vessels which are met are 

 hailed and asked whether any Sword-fish have been seen, and if tiding are 

 thus obtained, the ship's course is at once laid for the locality where they 

 were last noticed. A man is always stationed at the masthead, where, 

 with the keen eye which practice has given him, he can easily descry the 

 tell-tale dorsal fins at a distance of two or three miles. When a fish has 

 once been sighted, the watch "sings out," and the vessel is steered 

 directly towards it. The skipper takes his place in the "pulpit," holding 

 the pole in both hands by the small end, and directing the man at the 

 wheel by voice and gesture how to steer. There is no difficulty in 

 approaching the fish with a large vessel, although, as has already been 

 remarked, they will not suffer a small boat to come near them. The ves- 

 sel plows and swashes through the water, plunging its bowsprit into the 

 waves, without exciting their fears. Noises frighten them and drive them 

 down. Although there would be no difficulty in bringing the end of the 

 bowsprit directly over the fish, a skilful harpooner never waits for this. 

 When the fish is from 6 to 10 feet in front of the vessel it is struck. The 

 harpoon is never thrown, the pole being too long. The strong arm of the 

 harpooner punches the dart into the back of the fish, right at the side of 

 the high dorsal fin, and the pole is withdrawn and fastened again to its 

 place. When the dart has been fastened to the fish the line is allowed to 

 run out as far as the fish will carry it, and is then passed in a small boat, 

 which is towing at the stern. Two men jump into this, and pulling in 

 upon the line until the fish is brought in alongside, it is then killed with 

 a whale-lance or a whale-spade, which is stuck into the gills. 



The fish having been killed, it is lifted upon the deck by a purchase- 

 tackle of two double blocks rigged in the shrouds. 



The pursuit of the Sword-fish is much more exciting than ordinary 

 fishing, for it resembles the hunting of large animals upon the land, and 



