SWORD-FISH, SPEAR-FISH AND CUTLASS-FISH. 241 



In Cuba, the Spear-fishes are called " Aguja " and " Aguja de Pa/a da " ; 

 the Sail-fish, " Aguja Prieta " or " Aguja Voladora " ; Tetrapturus albidus 

 especially is known as the " Aguja Blanca," T. albidus as the " Aguja de. 

 Casta.' 1 '' 



In the West Indies and Florida the scabbard-fish or silvery hair-tail, 

 Trichiurus lepturus, a form allied to the Xiphias, though not resembling 

 it closely in external appearance, is often called "Sword-fish." The 

 body of this fish is shaped like the blade of a saber, and its skin has a 

 bright metallic lustre like that of polished steel ; hence the name. 



Sword-fish are most abundant on the shoals near the shore and on the 

 banks during the months of July and August ; that they make their 

 appearance on the frequented cruising grounds between Montauk Point 

 and the eastern part of George's Banks some time between the 25th of 

 May and the 20th of June, and that they remain until the approach of 

 cold weather in October and November. The dates of the capture of the 

 first fish on the cruising ground referred to are recorded for three years, 

 and are reasonably reliable; in 1875, June 20; 1877, June 10; [S78, 

 June 14. 



South of the cruising ground the dates of arrival and departure are 

 doubtless further apart ; the season being shorter north and east. There 

 are no means of obtaining information, since the men engaged in this 

 fishery are the only ones likely to remember the dates when the fish are 

 seen. 



The Sword-fish comes into our waters in pursuit of its food. At least 

 this is the most probable explanation of their movements, since the duties 

 of reproduction appear to be performed elsewhere. Like the tunny, the 

 blue-fish, the bonito, and the squeteague, they pursue and prey upon the 

 schools of menhaden and mackerel which are so abundant in the summer 

 months. " When you see Sword-fish, you may know that mackerel are 

 about," said an old fisherman to me. "Where you see the fin-back 

 whale following food, there you may find Sword-fish," said another. 

 The Sword-fish also feeds upon squid, which are at times abundant on our 

 banks. 



To what extent this fish is amenable to the influences of temperature is 

 an unsolved problem. We are met at the outset by the fact that they are 

 frequently taken on trawl-lines which are set at the depth of one hundred 

 fathoms or more, on the off-shore banks. We know that the temperature 



16 



