[33] MATERIALS FOR A HISTORY OF THE SWORD-FISHES. 321 
abundant as August 15,1859. He was cruising between George’s Banks 
and the South Shoals. It was a calm day, after a fog. He could at any 
time see twenty-five or thirty from the mast-head. They turn south 
when snow comes. 
Capt. George H. Martin, of East Gloucester, tells me that the Glouces- 
ter vessels employed in this fishery expect to be on the fishing grounds 
south of George’s Banks by the 10thof June. They almost always find 
the fish there on their arrival, following the schools of mackerel. They 
“tend on soundings”, like the mackerel. The first Sword-fish of 1877 
was taken June 10; the first of 1878, June 14. 
The statements already quoted, and numerous conversations with 
fishermen not here recorded, lead me to believe that Sword-fish are most 
abundant on the shoals near the shore and on the banks during the 
months of July and August; that they make their appearance on the 
frequented cruising grounds between Montauk Point and the eastern 
part of George’s Banks some time between the 25th of May and the 20th 
of June, and that they remain until the approach of cold weather in 
October or early in November. The dates of the capture of the first fish 
on the cruistmg ground referred to are recorded for three years, and are 
reasonably reliable: 1875, June 20; 1877, June 10; 1878, June 14. 
South of the cruising ground the dates of arrival and departure are 
doubtless farther apart; north and east the season shorter. There are 
no means of obtaining information, since the men engaged in this fishery 
are the only ones likely to remember the dates when the fish are seen. 
21.—REASONS OF THE COMING OF SWORD-FISH UPON OUR COAST. 
The Sword-fish comes into our waters in pursuit of its food. At least 
this is the most probable explanation of their movements, since the duties 
of reproduction appear to be performed elsewhere. Like the tunny, 
the bluefish, the bonito, and the squeteague, they pursue and prey upon 
the schools of menhaden and mackerel which are so abundant in the 
summer months. ‘ When you see Sword-fish, you may know that mack- 
erel are about!” said an old fisherman to me. ‘* Where you see the fin- 
back whale following food, there you find Sword-fish!” said another. 
The Sword-fish also feeds upon squid, which are at times abundant on 
our banks. ; 
22.—THE INFLUENCE OF TEMPERATURE UPON THE MOVEMENTS OF 
THE SWORD-FISH. 
To what extent this fish is amenable to the influences of temperature 
is an unsolved problem. We are met at the outset by the fact that they 
are frequently taken on trawl-lines which are set at the depth of 100 
fathoms or more on the off shore banks. Weknow that the temperature 
of the water at those localities and at that depth is sure to be less than 
40° Fahrenheit. How is this fact to be reconciled with the known habits 
of the fish, that it prefers the warmest weather of summer and swims at 
S. Mis. 29——21 
