FISHES OF THE GULF OF MAINE 227 



Swordfish are harpooned. We have never heard of one caught in net or seine, 

 nor is it likely that any net of the sorts now in use would hold a large one. On 

 rare occasions swordfish have heen taken on hand lines baited for cod with mackerel 

 or other fish. Goode (1SS3), for example, relates an instance where seven were 

 so caught in one day in the South Channel in 15 to 25 fathoms, and fishermen have 

 told us of other such happenings. 



Commercial importance, — Appreciation of the swordfish in the market is of 

 recent growth. Down to the middle of the past century it was unsalable in Boston 

 and brought a very low price in New York, but of late years the demand would 

 take care of a much greater supply than is available. In 1919 the price to the fisher- 

 men averaged between 23 and 24 cents per pound. 00 



THE SAILFISHES. FAMILY ISTIOPHORID^ 



Sailfishes, like the swordfish, have a "sword" formed by the prolongation of 

 the snout and upper jaw. They are scaly, however; their teeth persist throughout 

 life; they have long ventral fins; and their dorsal fins occupy the greater part of the 



Fig. 104. — Spearfish (Tetrapturus imperator) 



back behind the nape; characters that separate them at a glance from the swordfish 

 family. Five species are known — all oceanic and subtropical — only one of which 

 has ever been taken within the limits of the Gulf of Maine, though a second (the 

 sailfish) might stray thither (p. 228). 



KEY TO GULF OF MAINE SAILFISHES 



1. First dorsal fin much higher than the body is deep; ventrals of 3 rays Sailfish, p. 228 



The first dorsal fin is not higher than the body is deep; ventrals reduced to one spine 

 each Spearfish, p. 227 



84. Spearfish ( Tetrapturus imperator Bloch and Schneider) 



BlLLFISH 



Jordan and Evermann, 1896-1900 (Tetrapturus albidus), p. 892. 



Description. — The spearfish parallels the common swordfish in the prolongation 

 of the bones of the upper jaw and snout to form a sword, but differs so widely from 

 it in the relative size and outlines of its fins that there is no danger of confusing the 

 two. Perhaps the most obvious difference is that its first dorsal fin 91 occupies 



90 Landings in Maine and Massachusetts: 1,136,542 pounds valued at $270,164. 



81 In very young spearfishes there is but one continuous dorsal fin, which later separates into two. 



