SWORD-FISH, SPEAR-FISH AND CUTLASS-FISH. 253 



that both the Cuban species swim at a depth of one hundred fathoms, and 

 they journey in pairs, shaping their course toward the Gulf of Mexico, the 

 females being full of eggs. Only adults are taken. It is not known 

 whence they come, or where they breed, or how the young return. It is 

 not even known whether the adult fishes return by the same route. When 

 the fish has swallowed the hook it rises to the surface, making prodigious 

 leaps and plunges. At last it is dragged to the boat, secured with a boat- 

 hook, and beaten to death before it is hauled on board. Such fishing is 

 not without danger, for the Spear-fish sometimes rushes upon the boat, 

 drowning the fisherman, or wounding him with its terrible weapon. The 

 fish becomes furious at the appearance of sharks, which are its natural 

 enemies. They engage in violent combats, and when the Spear-fish is 

 attached to the fisherman's line it often received frightful wounds from 

 these adversaries. 



The Spear-fish strikes vessels in the same manner as the Sword-fish. I 

 am indebted to Capt. William Spicer, of Noank, Conn., for this note : 



THE SPEAK-FISH. 



" Mr. William Taylor, of Mystic, a man seventy-six years old, who was 

 in the smack 'Evergreen,' Capt. John Appleman, tells me that they 

 started from Mystic, October 3, 1832, on a fishing voyage to Key West, in 

 company with the smack ' Morning Star,' Capt. Rowland. On the 12th 

 were off Cape Hatteras, the wind blowing heavily from the northeast, and 

 the smack under double-reefed sails. At 10 o'clock in the evening they 

 were struck by a ' Woho' {sic), which shocked the vessel all over. The 

 smack was leaking badly, and they made a signal to the ' Morning Star ' 

 to keep close by them. The next morning they found the leak, and both 

 smacks kept off to Charleston. On arrival they took out the ballast, hove 

 her out, and found that the sword had gone through the planking, timber, 

 and ceiling. The plank was two inches thick, the timber five inches, and 



