352 Atlantic Sail fish, Sword fish 



Atlantic Sailfish 

 Istiophorus americanus (Cuvier and Valenciennes) 



The Sailfish occurs in the warmer waters of the American 

 Atlantic and is common off southern Florida and in the 

 West Indies. It is a rare straggler in the Middle Atlantic 

 region but has been reported as far north as Cape Cod. 



Swordfish 

 Xiphias gladius Linnaeus 



Color: Black, dark purple, or blue above. Silvery below. 

 Distribution: Cosmopolitan in warm seas. In the western 

 Atlantic it ranges as far north as the coast of Newfound- 

 land. 



Size: This species may grow to 16 feet in length and 

 weigh 1,100 pounds. 



General Information: The Swordfish is found offshore in 

 the ocean but sometimes approaches close to the shore to 

 feed. It is often seen, singly or in pairs, resting quietly 

 near the surface of the water. It has been taken on lines 

 at depths of 1,200 feet. The Swordfish feeds mostly on 

 fish and squid, and deep-sea fish found in their stomachs 

 indicate that they will go to great depths in search of 

 food. The sword is used to strike at the prey, either killing 

 or stunning it before it is eaten. Harpooned Swordfish 

 have been known to attack boats, driving their swords 

 into the hulls. 



