BULLETIN OF TIIL UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 417 



Vol. VI, ]^o. 27. VTashmg^ton, D. C. Ular. 94, 1 887, 



119.— A MAIV KIIiliED BY A SWOBDFISH.* 



By W. A. WILCOX. 



[From a letter to Prof. S. F. Baird. ] 



The schooner Venus is a small vessel of about 12 tons, owned and 

 commanded by Franlilin D. Langsfoixl, of Lanesville, Mass., with a 

 crew of three men, engaged in the general fisheries oft' the coast of 

 Massachusetts. On Monday morning, August 9, Captain Langsford 

 sailed from home in pursuit of swordfish. About 11 a. m., when 8 miles 

 northeast from Halibut Point, in Ipswich Bay, a fish was seen. The 

 captain, with one man, taking a dory, gave chase, and soon harpooned the 

 fish, throwing over a buoy with a line attached to the harpoon, after 

 which the fish was left and they returned to the vessel for dinner. 

 About an hour later the captain, with one man, again took his dory 

 and went out to secure the fish. Picking up the buoy. Captain Langs- 

 ford took hold of the line, pulling his boat toward the swordfish, which 

 was quite large and not badly wounded. The line was taut as the boat 

 slowly neared the fish, which the captain intended to lance and thus 

 kill it. AVhen near the fish, but too far away to reach it with the lance, 

 it quickly turned and rushed at and under the boat, thrusting its sword 

 up through the bottom of the boat 23 inches. As the fish turned and 

 rushed toward the boat the line was suddenly slacked, causing the 

 captain to fall over on his back ; and while he was in the act of rising 

 the sword came piercing through the boat and into his body. At this 

 time another swordfish was in sight near by, and the captain, excited 

 and anxious to secure both, raised himself up, not knowing that he was 

 wounded. Seeing the sword, he seized it, exclaiming, "We've got liim^ 

 any way ! " He lay in the bottom of the dory, holding fast to the sword, 

 until his vessel came alongside, while the fish, being under the boat, 

 could not be reached. Soon the captain said, "I think I am hurt, and 

 quite badly." When the vessel arrived he went on board, took a few 

 steps, and fell, never rising again. The boat and fish were soon hoisted 

 on board, Avhen the sword was chopped oft' to free the boat, and the fish 

 was killed on the deck of the vessel. The fish weighed 245 pounds 

 after its head and tail were cut off and the viscera removed; when alive 

 it weighed something over 300 pounds. Captain Langsford survived 

 the injury about three days, dying on Thursday, August 12, of perito. 

 nitis. The certificate of Dr. Garland written on the 16th of August is 

 appended, giving some further particulars, and the sword has been de- 

 posited in the U. S. ]Srational Museum. 



* A preliminary notice of this appeared among tlie notes of this Bulletin at page 411. 

 Bull. F. C. 86 27 



