SYSTEMATIC CATALOGUE OF FISHES. 197 



ventrals absent; all the fins shark-like, the rays developed in the skin; caudal 

 peduncle slender, with a keel on each side; young with both jaws produced, the 

 dorsal and anal fins continuous, the head spinous, and body with rudimentary 



scales. 



Genus XIPHIAS Linnaeus. Sword-fishes. 



Characters of the genus noted above. {Xiphias, ancient Greek name for 

 the sword-fish, from xiphos, a sword.) 



168. XIPHIAS GLADIUS Linnaeus. 

 Sword-fish. 



Xiphias gladius Linnaeus, Systema Naturae, ed. x, 248, 1758; Europe. Yarrow, 1877, 207; off Cape Lookout. 

 Jenkins, 1887, 88; Beaufort Jordan & Evermann, 1896, 894. 



Diagnosis. — Body very slightly compressed, tapering uniformly from head to tail, the 

 greatest depth (at anterior dorsal fin) contained 5.5 to 6 times in total length (to base of caudal 

 fin); head with sword longer than remainder of body; snout about .33 total length to tip of 

 caudal lobes; mouth large, the cleft extending iat beyond eye; eye .25 postorbital part of head; 

 first dorsal fm very high and falcate anteriorly, its height nearly as great as depth of body; 

 dorsal rays 40 + 2 to 4; first anal fin falcate like dorsal but smaller, its origin about midway 

 between pectorals and base of caudal; anal rays 18 to 21 + 3; length of caudal lobes measured 

 from end of keel greater than depth of body; pectorals placed very low, their length about 

 equal to that of fnst dorsal. Color: lustrous blackish purple above, whitish beneath; the 

 fins dark bluish; upper side of sword purplish blue like the head, under side lighter; iris blue. 

 {gladius, sword.) 



This large inhabitant of the high seas is common off the entire east coast of 

 the United States, occasionally coming into the inshore waters. Yarrow did not 

 see this species at Fort Macon, but received "reliable information of its occa- 

 sional appearance off Cape Lookout". 



Jenkins lists it as "occasionally reported by fishermen", and cites Prof. W. 

 K. Brooks as authority for the statement. Goode (1884) quotes a Mr. A. W. 

 Simpson as reporting that sword-fish have at times been seen in large numbers 

 off Cape Hatteras in November and December, sometimes entering the sounds. 



The sword-fish is one of the largest, most powerful, and most dangerous 

 fishes sought by man. The average weight is 400 to 500 pounds, and the maxi- 

 mum more than 800 pounds, the length of the largest being 15 feet. On the 

 New England coast there is an important fishery for the sword-fish, which is 

 killed by harpooning. The flesh is firm and palatable, and usually brings a good 

 price; it is sold in the form of steaks. 



Family ISTIOPHORIDiE. The Sail-fishes and Spear-fishes. 



These are large, pelagic fishes, similar in appearance and habits to the much 

 commoner sword-fish (Xiphias), but readily distinguishable therefrom by the 

 compressed body, elongate dorsal fin, well-developed ventral fins, shorter sword, 

 complex air-bladder, etc. The body is elongate and covered with Unear scutes. 

 The bones of the upper jaw are fused and elongated to form a long and strong 

 sword or spear. The mouth is provided with small granular teeth on jaws and 



