:P^:RT iv. 



THE SWORDFISH FISHERY. 



BY G. BROWN GcmB. 



1. THE FISHING GROUNDS. 



In the natural history of the swordflsli, in Section I of this report is printed a discussion of 

 the dates of the appearance of this species in our waters and of its local movements. 



Early in the season the swordfish are most abundant west of MOD tank Point, and later they 

 spread over the shoal grounds along the coast even as far north as the Nova Scotia Banks. They 

 may be found wherever mackerel and meuhaden are abundant, as may be inferred from the almost 

 universal practice of carrying swordfish irons on board of mackerel vessels. 



I quote the statements of three or four correspondents who have taken the trouble to inter- 

 view the fishermen of their respective localities. 



Mr. E. G. Blackford writes: "The season first opens early in June in the neighborhood of 

 Sandy Hook, and continues along the coast as far east as Martha's Vineyard and Nautucket Shoals 

 until about the middle of September. They are said to have been caught as far north as Cape 

 Sable. At the first cold wind blowing ID September they disappear, and are not found again on 

 the coast that season. This information I received from an old New York swordfisherman, a man 

 whose statements may be relied on." 



Capt. Benjamin Ashby, of Noank, Conn., informs me that the swordfish vessels of Noank 

 aud New London are accustomed to leave the home port about the 6th of July, and throughout 

 the month they find fit-h most abundant between Block Island and No Man's Laud; in August 

 between No Man's Land and the South Shoal light-ship. They first meet the fish twenty to twenty- 

 five miles southeast of Montauk Point. In August and September thej are found on George's 

 Bank. There is no fishing after the snow begins to fly. 



A little farther east is the New Bedford fleet. Capt. I. H. Michaux, of the schooner Yankee 

 Bride, tells me that swordfish strike in about Block Island in the middle of June and stay in 

 that vicinity until the 15th or 20th of August. North of Cape Cod they are taken up to the 20th 

 of October. 



Mr. John H. Thomson, of New Bedford, states that from May 25 to June they are found south 

 of Block Island, approaching the Vineyard Sound and the neighboring waters through June and 

 to the middle of July. A little later they are more abundant to the southeast of Crab Ledge, and 

 after August 1 to the southeast of Cape Cod aud George's Bank. 



The schooner Northern Eagle, of Gloucester, Capt. George H. Martin, when engaged in sword- 

 fish fishing, is accustomed to leave Gloucester so as to be on the ground south of Block Island by 

 the 10th of June, and the fish are followed as far east as Portland. Mr. Earll ascertained that the 

 swordfish are mostly fished for on the coast of Maine from July 1 to September 1. Halibut vessels 

 ou La Have and Sable Island Banks occasionally take these fish upon their lines. 



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