Big Game at Sea 



until they obtain a load, then bear away for Boston, 

 where I have seen a dozen vessels unloading at the 

 same time, the men hoisting out the big bodies, the 

 heads and swords having been left behind. It is a 

 singular fact that these New England fishes cannot be 

 taken with hook and line, while the sailfish of Florida 

 and Cuba, and the powerful short marlin-spike sword- 

 fish of Southern California takes the bait readily and 

 are included among the game fishes of the several 

 regions, making a desperate fight on the rod, and 

 having a decided economic value. Usually sword- 

 fishes on the California coast appear singly, but sev- 

 eral years ago an enormous school was seen in the 

 San Clemente Channel moving slowly north an 

 imposing and menacing spectacle. 



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