2 22 Fish Stories 



to my mind, the embodiment of hard-fighting game fishes, 

 fighting as well as the tarpon. 



Profesor Poey, the well-known Cuban naturalist, says of 

 it : " Such fishing is not without danger, for the spearfish at 

 times rushes upon the boat, drowning the fisherman or 

 wounding him with its terrible weapon." The sword of 

 these fishes is much shorter and smaller than that of the big 

 Xiphias, but it is equally effective. The sloop '' Morning 

 Star " was so badly rammed by one that she was obliged to 

 put into Charleston. When they hove her down the sword 

 was seen to have gone through two inches of planking inside 

 the after run. Had the vessel been far out to sea, she would 

 doubtless have gone down. 



At Santa Catalina Island, the Tuna Club recognizes the 

 great swordfish as a game fish of the very first rank, as also 

 the marlinespike fish, Tetraptunis. Among its beautiful 

 cups is one on which is inscribed the name of the angler who 

 takes the largest specimen every year with rod and reel. At 

 Palm Beach, Florida, the sailfish is now taken with a rod, 

 to the joy of the anglers and the terror and dismay of many 

 negro boatmen, who generally stand up and look anxious, 

 when the line becomes slack. 



One of the most enthusiastic of these swordfish anglers is 

 Mr. John B. Cauldwell of New York, who sends me the 

 following notes on the new game fish of Florida : 



'' To sportsmen in search of giant game fish no fighting 

 member of the finny tribe, inhabiting the Atlantic, affords 

 such lively sport as the great sailfish to be found off the 

 Florida Coast. The small number of these rare fish an- 

 nually taken in Atlantic waters is partially explained by the 

 uncertainties and difficulties to be encountered in locating 

 their presence, as well as the great skill, experience and 

 endurance required in handling them with rod and reel. 

 Although infrequently seen near the Florida Keys, they 

 seldom leave the vicinity of the warm Gulf Stream, whose 

 waters approach within five miles of Palm Beach, the near- 



