a 
* [15] MATERIALS FOR A HISTORY OF THE SWORD-FISHES. 3(03 
4 
10.—POEY’S DESCRIPTIONS OF TETRAPTURUS ALBIDUS AND TETRAP- 
TURUS AMPLUS. 
It is quite probable that the larger species of Tetrapturus, T. amplus, 
Poey, which frequents the waters of Cuba, in company with the species 
now so often seen on our coast, may yet be found on the coast of the 
United States. It seems desirable, therefore, to quote here, in full, 
translations of the original descriptions. These species should both be 
critically compared with the Tetrapturus Georgii, described by the Rev. 
H. T. Lowe from Madeira.* 
“Tt is very strange that the fishes known at Havana by the names 
Aguja and Agua de Paladar have never been described in ichthyologi- 
eal works. Their size would naturally attract the attention of travelers, 
and since they are very Common for four months in the year it would 
have been very easy to obtain them. Their flesh is palatable and always 
wholesome. They may have been confounded with 7. belone of the 
Mediterranean, especially since the Xiphias gladius, here known as the 
Emperador, is often taken in our waters. 
It is only necessary to glance at the figure of T. belone given by Cuvier 
and Valenciennes, and to carefully follow the description, to be satisfied 
that it is another species. The Histiophorus americanus, which we eall 
Aguja prieta or Agua voladera, is also found on our shores. Of the true 
_ Tetraptures we have two species, very distinct, the Aguja blanca ( Tetrap- 
turus albidus) and the Aguja de Casta (Tetrapturus amplus). 
Tetrapturus albidus is abundant during the month of June and up to 
the middle of July; some are taken in August. The ordinary weight 
is 40 pounds, though they are sometimes taken of 100. pounds weight. 
Tetrapturus amplus makes its appearance at the end of July, and is 
most abundant during August. Its ordinary weight is 200 to 300 pounds, 
but it reaches a much greater size, and is often taken weighing 400 to 
500 pounds, and even 800. 
The males are the smaller. These two species swim at the depth 
of 100 fathoms. They journey in pairs, shaping their course toward the 
Gulf of Mexico, the females being full of eggs. 
Only adults are taken. It isnot known whence they come, where they 
breed, or how the young return; it is not even known whether the adult 
fishes return by the same route. 
When the fish has swallowed the hook it rises to the surface, making 
prodigious leaps and plunges; exhausted at last, it is dragged to the 
boat, secured with a boat-hook, and beaten to death before it is hauled * 
on board. 
Such fishing is not without danger, for the Tetrapture sometimes 
rushes upon the boat, drowning the fisherman or wounding him with 
his terrible weapon. 
The fish becomes furious at the approach of sharks, which are its 
*Proceedings Zoological Society of London, 1840, p. 36; Transactions Zoological 
Society of London, iii, 1840, p. 3. 
