354 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES, [66] 
east of Sable Island, in 175 fathoms, caught one Sword-fish on his trawl 
and saw several others swimming at the surface; October 8, caught 
another on Banquereau, in the locality first mentioned. In August, 
1878, Captain Greenleaf, of the schooner “Chester R. Lawrence”, of 
Gloucester, fishing in 140 fathoms, caught chirteen in one trip. I ean- 
not learn that this manner of capture was ever known before 1876, but 
it has since become so frequent that it excites no remark for a halibut- 
catcher to unload several Sword-fish among its halibut. This manner 
of taking the Sword-fish is of course purely accidental, and is rather a 
vexation than otherwise to the fishermen. It is probable that the fish 
take the bait when the line is being set and they are swimming near 
the surface, and they are involuntarily carried down by its great weight. 
53.—SWORD-FISH VESSELS. 
The vessels engaged in swordfishing are sloops and small schooners 
of generally less than fifty tons. The crew is also small, consisting of 
two or sometimes three men besides the cook andaboy. Although 
many vessels are employed in this fishery for several successive years, 
there are many others which fit out for a single season or for a part of 
a season. Others, on the south coast of New England, divide their 
time between fishing for sea-bass and hunting for Sword-fish, all 
warm and quiet days being devoted to the latter pursuit. Six or eight 
vessels from New London are thus employed, as well as others from 
Noank and Bridgeport. On the coast of Maine, as has already been 
mentioned, many of the smaller fishing vessels fitted for the capture of 
mackerel and cod devote a part of the season: to swordfishing. Other 
vessels, among them occasionally a gentleman’s yacht, enter the field 
for a cruise or two in the course of a summer. To do this is a favorite 
recreation for old swordfishermen engaged in other work. Numerous 
mackerel schooners carry the Sword-fish “pulpit” on their bows, and 
so do various coasters and packets. ; 
It has therefore not been thought desirable to attempt to make a list 
of the vessels engaged in the swordfishery, or even an exact enumera- 
tion of them. In 1879 estimates by careful men engaged in the busi- 
ness fixed the number belonging in different ports as follows: 
New Work (hailing from New London) c-ranere seers ce <b a. seen ones een eee eee eee 2 
Greenport (Sloops) a: :.<5-6224.).5- case see eee mee Se caeiae te a ae eee ee 2 
WewyplOnGONs.5 2-20.20. ens teen hoe NS ee oEtUE ec neds os Seater Saree eee 8 
ING WDORU se cisco cies weinimine res ss genes See Meee ence Ce eae ne cece een eee 1 
IDM I Rey) oe et an a 2 9 kT ee eee ORM es Sh 2 
Cotiybhunkeee sees eS seins oes Sek ee ee eee ate seen eee 3 
WVeEStpOnG ee tec aes Lk i te ee oe oe ee ca RE ee 2 
IN Gn pels COOL ie mie ters Swleln ace, a aiicicicivie ere aS ee eee eee eiecnc eee een eee 13 
DarumMOUb bs ceyne sss eels cic sain occmieeys fe SA OOO teem aren oscenine Ree rece ee ween 2 
SouthisidejotiCape Codt. 5. 2225. caccco seen eeece gM eee ecco a cmes cmos eee 5 
~ 
SSS) ae hers SUN OE Ooh co INe Fearn eA eEe Ge Oy ce dtl 
