164 GIANT FISHES 



authorities are of the opinion that they sometimes make use 

 of this fin as a sail to catch the wind, and in this connection 

 the following passage from the life of Sir Stamford Raffles 

 is of interest : " The only amusing discovery we have recently 

 made is that of a sailing fish, called by the natives Ikan layer, 

 of about 10 or 12 feet long, which hoists a mainsail, and often 

 sails in the manner of a native boat, and with considerable 

 swiftness. . . . When a school of these are under sail 

 together they are frequently mistaken for a fleet of native 

 boats ". 



The food and the methods of feeding are essentially the same 

 as those of the Spear-fishes, and the breeding habits are also 

 believed to be similar. 



Certain of the young stages of a species of Sail-fish (or 

 perhaps of a Spear-fish) have been described and figured by 

 the late Dr. Giinther, and are of considerable interest. In the 

 first stage, a little fish only 9 mm. long, both jaws are equally 

 produced and provided with pointed teeth ; the edge of the 

 head above the eye has a series of short bristles ; and long 

 spines project backwards from each side of the head above 

 and below. The dorsal fin has the form of a long low fringe, 

 the pectoral fins are large and square-cut, and the pelvic fins 

 are represented by a pair of short buds. At the next stage, 

 14 mm. in length, the dorsal fin has grown enormously, the 

 pelvic fins are long filaments, and the shape of the pectorals 

 has changed. The spines on the head are still prominent, 

 but the bristles above the eye have disappeared ; the uppei 

 jaw is now a little longer than the lower. At the third stage, 

 60 mm. in length, the dorsal fin has a front portion of great 

 size, and a smaller hinder part ; the upper jaw projects 

 considerably beyond the lower and the teeth have all but 

 disappeared ; the spines on the head are relatively smaller , 

 and the pelvic fins are considerably reduced in size. 



The flesh of the Sail-fishes provides excellent food. As 

 sporting fishes they have a high and well-deserved reputation, 

 and are regarded Dy many as the greatest of all the game- 

 fishes. A frantic Sail-fish leaping " across forty feet of water 

 on a loose line " must be a truly inspiring sight ! 



The scientific name, Istiophorus, is derived from two Greek 

 words, and means " sail-bearer " 



