[35] MATERIALS FOR A HISTORY OF THE SWORD-FISHES. 323 
24.—_-MOVEMENTS OF INDIVIDUAL SWORD-FISHES. 
A Sword-fish when swimming near the surface usually allows its dor- 
sal fin and the upper lobe of its caudal fin to be visible, projecting out 
of the water several inches. It is this habit which enables the fishex- 
man to detect the presence of the fish. It swims slowly along, and tie 
fishing schooner with a light breeze finds no difficulty in overtaking it. 
When excited its motions are very rapid and nervous. Sword-fishes are 
sometimes seen to leap entirely out of the water. Early writers attrib- 
uted this habit to the tormenting presence of parasites, but this theory 
seems hardly necessary, knowing what we do of its violent exertions at 
other times. The pointed head, the fins of the back and abdomen snugly 
fitting into grooves, the absence of ventrals, the long, lithe, muscular 
body, sloping slowly to the tail, fit it for the most rapid and forcible 
movement through the water. Prof. Richard Owen, testifying in an 
English court in regard to its power, said: 
“Tt strikes with the accumulated force of fifteen double-handed ham- 
mers. Its velocity is equal to that of a swivel-shot, and is as dangerous 
in its effects as a heavy artillery projectile.” 
Many very curious instances are on record of the encounters of this 
fish with other fishes or of their attacks upon ships. What can be the 
inducement for it to attack objects so much larger than itself it is hard 
to surmise. Every one knows the couplet from Oppian: 
‘Nature her bounty to his mouth confined, 
Gave him a sword, but left unarmed his mind.” 
It surely seems as if a temporary insanity sometimes takes possession 
of the fish. It is not strange that, when harpooned, it should retaliate 
by attacking its assailant. An old swordfisherman told Mr. Blackford 
that his vessel had been struck twenty times. There are, however, 
many instances of entirely unprovoked assault on vessels at sea. Many 
of these are recounted in a later portion of this memoir. Their move- 
ments when feeding are discussed below, under section 35, as well as 
their alleged peculiarities of movement during the breeding season, un- 
der section 37. 
It is the universal testimony of our fishermen that two are never seen 
swimming close together. Captain Ashby says that they are always 
distant from each other at least 30 or 40 feet. 
25.—MOVEMENTS OF SPEAR-FISHES. 
The Spear-fish in our waters is said by the fishermen to resemble the 
Sword-fish in its movements and manner of feeding. Professor Poey 
narrates that both the Cuban species swim at a depth of 100 fathoms, 
and they journey in pairs, shaping their course toward the Gulf of Mexico, 
the females being fuil of eggs. Only adultsaretaken. It is not known 
whence they come, or where they breed, or how the young return. Itis 
not even known whether the adult fishes return by the same route. 
