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246 AMERICAN FISHES 



From other circumstances, it seems certain that there are spawning 

 grounds in the sea near Sicily and Genoa, for from November to the ist 

 of March young ones are taken in the Straits of Messina, ranging in weight 

 from half a pound to twelve pounds. 



In the Mediterranean, as has been already stated, the very young fish 

 are found from November to March, and here from July to the middle of 

 September the male fish are seen pursuing the female over the shoals, and 

 at this time the males are easily taken. Old sword-fish fishermen, Capt. 

 Ashby and Capt. Kirby, assure me that on our coast, out of thousands of 

 Bpecimens they have taken, they ha^■e never seen one containing eggs. I 

 have myself dissected several males, none of which were near breeding 

 time. In the European waters they are said often to be seen swimming in 

 pairs, male and female. Many sentimental stories were current, especially 

 among the old writers, concerning the conjugal affection and unselfish 

 devotion of the Sword-fish, but these seem to have originated in the 

 imaginative brain of the naturalist rather than in his perceptive faculties. 

 It is said that when the female fish is taken the male seems devoid of fear, 

 approaches the boat, and allows himself easily to be taken • but, if this be 

 true, it appears to be the case only in the height of the breeding season, 

 and easily understood. I cannot learn that two Sword-fish have ever been 

 seen associated together in our waters, though I ha^-e made frequent and 

 diligent inquiry. 



There is no inherent improbability, however, in this story regarding the 

 Sword-fish in Europe, for the same thing is stated by Prof. Poey as the 

 result upon the habits of Tctrapfurns. 



The only individual of which we have the exact measurements was taken 

 off Seaconnet, R. I., July 23, 1874. This was seven feet, seven inches 

 long, weighing 113 pounds. Another, taken off Noman's Land, July 20, 

 1875, and cast in plaster for the collection of the National Museum, 

 weighed 120 pounds, and measured about seven feet. Another, taken off 

 Portland, August 15, 1878, was 3,999 millimeters long, and weighed 

 about 600 pounds. Many of these fish doubtless attain the weight of 400 

 and 500 pounds, and some, perhaps, grow to 600 ; but after this limit is 

 reached, I am inclined to believe larger fish are exceptional. Newspapers 

 are fond of recording the occurrence of giant fish, weighing 1,500 pounds 

 and upwards, and old sailors will in good faith describe the enormous fish 

 which they saw at sea, but could not capture ; but one well-authenticated 



