[65] MATERIALS FOR A HISTORY OF THE SWORD-FISHES. 353 
gone out, when six of us managed to get a fair hold on the line, and at- 
_ tempted to try ourstrength. If six individuals were ever jerked around 
in @ more vivacious manner they have my utmost sympathies. Now 
the Sword-fish would land us altogether in a heap, then slacken up, and 
take us unawares, throwing us to the deck with a force that fully came 
up to my preconceived ideas of the sport. He would undoubtedly have 
dragged us all overboard if the rope had not been sure and fast. This 
sort of fun was kept up for about fifteen minutes, when the fish percepti- 
bly weakened, and the long rushes to the right and left grew feebler 
and feebler, until we ventured to haul in. At last we had the brute 
alongside. A rope was rigged from the peak and fastened around the 
long sword, and the monster was rolled on board the sloop. We meas- 
ured our game, which was 9 feet 6 inches long. Though I have fre- 
quently caught sharks which measured 13 feet, I never saw any that 
showed near the strength of this peculiar creature. 
‘“We cruised about all day in the vicinity, and succeeded in capturing 
three more, varying in length from 6 to 9 feet, and as we returned to 
Wood’s Holl I felt that I had well earned my experience.” 
52.—THE CAPTURE OF SWORD-FISH BY HOOK AND LINE. 
One or two instances are on record of the capture of Sword-fish upon 
an ordinary hand-line, and it is probable that this is much more com- 
mon than has been usually supposed. Capt. George H. Martin, of Glou- 
cester, informed me that he had seen seven caught in this manner in 
one day in the South Channel. They were caught in water fifteen to 
twenty-five fathoms deep, on the old-fashioned George’s cod-hook, with a 
six-inch shank. Mackerel were used for bait; these were split down the 
tail so that the shank of the hook could be entirely hidden in the gash, 
Ihave been told that they are also taken in this way about Block 
Island, and a similar method of fishing is described by Italian writers. 
Within the past three years it has not been unusual for Sword-tish to 
become entangled in the long lines of the halibut fishermen on the 
northern banks. The manner in which this occurs has already been 
discussed above. 
I have collected several instances. In 1877, in the month of August, 
Capt. Daniel O’Brien, of the schooner “ Ossipee”, of Gloucester, fishing 
in 200 fathoms of water, between Le Have and Western Bank, caught, 
in one voyage, five Sword-fish. 
At about the same time, Capt. R. L. Morrison, of the schooner “ Laura 
Nelson”, fishing in 275 fathoms, on Sable Island Bank, caught three 
Sword-fish. Another vessel, in August, 1877, fishing on Le Have, in 
from 175 to 180 fathoms, caught twelve, as well as three or four more in 
September. August 17, 1878, Capt. Joseph W. Collins, of the schooner 
“ Marion”, fishing on the southwest prong of Banquereau, in 200 fath- 
oms of water, caught one Sword-fish ; again, on October 1, fishing south- 
S. Mis. 29-——23 
