314 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [26] 
fish; yet as it is found in most seas, even to those of Ceylon (Mr. Lo- 
ten,) I give it a place here.” 
Catesby’s testimony was soon confirmed by Dr. lgeander Garden. 
This enthusiastic collector, through whose correspondence with Linnzus * 
so many of our southern plants and animals were first brought to knowl- 
edge and named, writes to John Ellis, from Charleston, S.C., March 25, 
1755: “T have sent you one of the rostrums of a fish found on the 
Florida coast, which I take to be a species of the Ziphias rostr. apice ensi- 
forme, pinnis ventralibus nullis.* I have been told that they are frequently 
found on the Carolina coast, though I have never seen any of them, 
and I have been ali along the coast to the Florida shore.” t 
Another allusion occurs in a communication by Prof. S. L. Mitchill, of 
New York, in the American Monthly Magazine: 
“¢ An individual of this species was taken, off Sandy Hook, by means 
of a harpoon, on the 19th June, 1817. The next day it was brought to 
New York Market and cut up like halibut and sturgeon for food. The 
length was about 12 feet, and girth, by estimation, 5. * * * The 
stomach contained seven or eight mackerel. The flesh was remarkably — 
firm; it was purchased at a quarter of a dollar the pound. I tasted a 
chop of it, broiled, and found it savory and excellent. It resembled the 
best sturgeon, without its strong and oily flavor. While I ate it I 
thought of veal cutlet. * * * Ihave been informed by my: friend 
John Renny that a Sword-fish 16 feet long was exhibited at New York 
in the year 1791.”t¢ 
15.—DISTRIBUTION OF XIPHIAS GLADIUS IN THE HASTERN ATLANTIC 
The Sword-fish is abundant in the Mediterranean§ even as far east 
as Constantinople. Aelian said that it was frequent in the Black Sea, 
entering the Danube. Unfortunately, this is neither confirmed nor con- 
tradicted by any later writer whose works I have seen, except Bloch, 
whose skepticism is as unreliable as the statements of Aelian. Aelian 
says that this species, with several others, is frequently taken in the 
Danube at the breaking up of the ice in spring. TYhisis so contrary to the 
known habits of the fish that it throws discredit on the whole story, for 
the present at least. J‘rom the entrance to the Mediterranean they 
range south to Cape Town. Berthelot saw great numbers of them off the 
Canaries. They have been frequently noticed on the coasts of Spain 
and France. They occur sparingly in summer in the British waters, - 
even to the Orkneys and the Hebrides. They occasionally reach 
* The name by which this fish was designated in the earlier editions of Linnzus’s 
writings. 
tA selection of the correspondence of Linneus and other naturalists, from the origi- 
nal manuscripts. By Sir James Edward Smith, M. D., F. R.S., &c., &c., president 
of the Linnzan Society. In two volumes. London. Printed for Longman, Hurst, 
Rees, Orme and Brown, Paternoster Row, 1821. (Vol. i, p. 353.) 
t American Monthly Magazine, ii, 1818, p. 242. 
§ Risso, Cuvier & Vacncion Guichenot, &c, 
