356 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES [68] 
the years 1840 and 1855, upon the south coast of New England. Cap- 
tain Ashby first engaged in it in 1859, when it was apparently a well-es- 
tablished industry. In 1861 it is recorded that some thirty vessels from 
New Bedford were profitably engaged in this business on the favorite 
ground, 15 to 20 miles southeast of Noman’s Land.* 
Mr. Earll ascertained that little attention was paid by the fishermen 
of Portland, Me., to Sword-fish until within two or three years. This 
fishery is carried on at odd times by mackerel gill-net fishermen, and 
by cod-trawling vessels when their regular industry is interfered with 
by the abundance of dog-fish. The season for dog-fish is also the time 
for Sword-fish, and at the present time, when the price of Sword-fish 
justifies it, smaller fishermen, when they are driven from their regular 
work by the dog-fish, make trips for the express purpose of capturing 
Sword-fish. Mackerel-seiners are beginning to carry Sword-fish irons, 
and are often very successful in killing the fish. 
At the present day, and for five or six years past, perhaps much 
longer, there has been very: little change in the number of vessels en- 
gaged, this varying from thirty to forty approximately in different years, 
Capt. Epes W. Merchant, of Gloucester, who has been familiar with 
the fisheries since 1804, tells me that the first Sword-fish ever brought 
to Gloucester within his recollection was caught on George’s Bank about 
the year 1831, by Captain Pugh, who brought it in and sold it at the 
rate of eight dollars a barrel, salted. Fishermen had before that been 
very much afraid of them, but afterwards a good many were caught. 
56.—THE CAPTURE OF THE SWORD-FISH IN THE MEDITERRANEAN. 
M. Victor Meunier, in his little treatise, ‘‘Les Grandes Péches”, p. 
141, describes the various methods formerly and at present in use in the — 
fisheries of the Mediterranean. The Greeks were accustomed to use 
boats with projecting bows, modeled to resemble a Sword-fish, and 
painted with its peculiar colors. This the unsuspecting fish would ap- 
proach, thinking to meet one of its own kind. The fishermen, taking 
advantage of the mistake, would pierce it through and through with 
their lances. Although surprised, the Sword-fish would defend itself 
with vigor, striking the treacherous boat with its sword and endanger- 
ing its safety, while the fishermen strove to seize it by the head and, if 
possible, to cut off its sword. Having overcome their captive, they 
would fasten it behind their boat and carry itashore. Oppian compared 
* “Sword-fish have been taken this season in large numbers. New Bedford vessels. 
have made a good thing in them. Few of the boats failed to take one or two daily. 
Captain Cobb, of the pilot-boat ‘Vision’, in a day and a half took nine, the largest 
weighing 400 pounds, Thirty vessels are fifteen miles sonth and east of Noman’s 
Land, or sixty miles out from New Bedford, and same distance from Nantucket. 
The season extends from June to September. The fish generally weigh 400 or 500 
pounds, and are from 10 to 12 feet long. ‘They are sold in New York. After a fish 
is harpooned it scuds away, with a coil of rope paying out, and sometimes an hour 
is used before he is brought on board.”—Barnstable Patriot, Aug. 20, 1861. 
