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BULLETIN OF THE BUEEAU OF FISHERIES 



nearly one-third the total length of the fish. This sword is of itseH enough to 

 identify the fish at a glance among all our northern fishes. In one 10 feet 10 

 inches long, which we killed on Georges Bank on tiie Grampvs in July, 1916, the 

 sword, tip to eye, was 42 inches long. The swordfish is moderately stout, only 

 slightly compressed, deepest just behind the gill opening, and tapering rearward 

 to a very slender caudal peduncle, which bears a single strong longitudinal keel 

 on either side. Apart from the sword the head is short, the lower jaw pointed, 

 and the mouth so wide that it gapes far back of the very large eye, which is set 

 close to the base of the sword. Swordfish (except young fry) are both toothless 

 and scaleless. There are two dorsal fins. The first originates over the upper angle 

 of the gill opening and is much higher than long (about 39 to 40 rays) , with deeply 

 concave margin. The second is very small and set far back on the caudal peduncle. 

 There are likewise two anals. The second is as small as the second dorsal and below 

 it, while the first is similar to the first dorsal in outline but shorter, and located 

 well behind it, close to the second. The pectorals are narrow, very long, falcate, 

 and set very low down on the sides below the first dorsal. The caudal fin is short, 



Fig. 102. — Swordfish iXiphias gladius). After California Fish and Game Commission 



but as broad as half the length of the fish from tip of lower jaw to base of caudal 

 fin, with deeply lunate margin and pointed tips. There are no ventrals." 



Color. — While all swordfish are dark above and whitish with silvery sheen 

 below, the upper surface varies from purplish to a dull leaden blue or even black. 

 The eye has been described as blue. Young swordfish, like young tuna, are trans- 

 versely barred, but none small enough to show this pattern has ever been found 

 within the limits of the Gulf. 



Size. — Swordfish grow to a great size. The largest definitely recorded from 

 the Gulf of Maine was one killed off Portland, Me., in 1874, weighing 639 poimds 

 salted, and hence must have "gone" at least 750 pounds alive. The heaviest 

 landed in Massachusetts during 1922 weighed 637 pounds dressed; that is, upward 

 of 700 pounds live weight.*^ About 16 feet seems to be the maxim imi length, but 

 fish as long as this are certainly very rare. One or more 500-pounders are reported 

 almost every year (the last big one we ourselves heard of was one of 536 pounds 

 taken by the schooner Two Sisters in August, 1922), but the average for the larger 

 run of Georges Bank and Gulf of Maine fish is only about 11 feet and 300 pounds 



" In the sailflsbes and spearflshes the body is scaleless, the jaws are toothed, ventral fins are present, and the first dorsal fin 

 is much longer than that of the swordfish. 

 •i Gloucester Times, Apr. 26, 1923, 



