[41] MATERIALS FOR A HISTORY OF THE SWORD-FISHES. 329 
many times in this fishery, and I dare not tell how many young fish are 
its victims; being of no value they are thrown back into the sea, mutilated 
or already dead from the rubbing of the net-meshes. I write denouncing 
this destructive method, and I urge forcibly the harm which results 
from it. They tell me it is true that there is a law of Genoa which for- 
bids its use, or rather its abuse, but this does not do away with the fact 
that each year there sail from the Gulf of Spezzia three or four pairs of 
fishing boats which go to the sea to carry on this fishery. Still more, 
the governor of the place, who should carry out this law, is the first to 
favor, by means of a gift of silver, the abuse which it is intended to 
prevent.” 
This, however, was a century ago. I have met with no complaints 
of decrease in the works of later writers, though in Targioni Tozzetti’s 
report, published in 1880, it is stated that there is much opposition to 
the capture of small fish. 
G.—FOOD. 
34.—NATURE OF FOOD. 
Dr. Fleming found the remains of Sepic in its stomach, and also small 
fishes. Oppian says that it eagerly devours the Hippuris (probably 
Coryphena). 
A specimen taken off Seaconnet, July 22, 1875, had in its stomach 
the remains of small fish, perhaps Poronotus,and jaws of a squid, per- 
haps Loligo Peaki. 
Their food in the Western Atlantic consists for the most part of the 
common schooling species of fishes. 
30.—MANNER OF OBTAINING FOOD. 
They feed on menhaden, mackerel, bonitoes, bluefish, and other species 
which swim in close schools. Their habits of feeding have often been 
described to me by old fishermen. They are said to rise beneath the 
school of small fish, striking to the right and left with their swords 
until they have killed a number, which they then proceed to devour. 
Menhaden have been seen floating at the surface which have been cut 
nearly in twain by a blow of the sword. Mr. John H. Thomson re- 
marks that he has seen them apparently throw the fish in the air, 
catching them on the fall. 
Capt. Benjamin Ashby says that they feed on mackerel, herring, 
whiting, and menhaden. He has found half a bucket full of small fish 
of tlrese kinds in the stomach of one Sword-fish. He has seen them in 
the act of feeding. They rise perpendicularly out of the water until 
the sword and two-thirds of the remainder of the body are exposed to 
view. He has seen a school of herring crowding together at the sur- 
face on George’s Banks as elosely as they could be packed. A Sword- 
fish came up through the dense mass and fell flat over on its side, 
