THE SWORDFISH FISHERY. 319 



the sharpened end of the pole, to which it is secured by screws or spikes. A light line extends 

 from one end of the pole to the point where it joins the "shank," and in this line is tied a loop, by 

 which is made fast another short line, which secures the pole to the vessel or boat, so that when it 

 is thrown at the fish it cannot be lost. 



Upon the end of the "shank" fits somewhat securely the head of the harpoon, known to the 

 fishermen by the names "swordfish iron," "lily iron," or "Indian dart." The form of this weapon 

 has undergone much variation, as is shown in the series of specimens in the National Museum. 

 The fundamental idea may very possibly have been derived from the Indian fish-dart, numerous 

 specimens of which are in the National Museum. However various the modifications may have 

 been, the similarity of the different shapes is no less noteworthy from the fact that all are 

 peculiarly American. In the enormous collection of fishery implements of all lands in the late 

 exhibition at Berlin nothing of the kind could be found. What is known to whalers as a toggle- 

 harpoon is a modification of the lily-iron, but so greatly changed by the addition of a pivot 

 by which the head of the harpoon is fastened to the shank that it can hardly be regarded as the 

 same weapon. The lily-iron is in principle exactly what a whalemen would describe by the word 

 "toggle." It consists of a two-pointed piece of metal, having in the center, at one side, a ring or 

 socket whose axis is parallel with the long diameter of the implement. In this is inserted the end 

 of the pole shank, and to it or near it is also attached the harpoon-line. When the iron has once 

 been thrust point first through some solid substance, such as the side of a fish, and is released 

 upon the other side by the withdrawal of the pole from the socket, it is free, and at once turns its 

 long axis at right angles to the direction in which the harpoon-line is pulling, and thus is abso- 

 lutely prevented from withdrawal. The principle of the whale harpoon or toggle-iron is similar, 

 except that the pole is not withdrawn, and the head, turning upon a pivot at its end, fastens the 

 pole itself securely to the fish, the harpoon line being attached to some part of the pole. The 

 swordfish lily-iron head, as now ordinarily used, is about 4 inches in length, and consists of two 

 lanceolate blades, each about an inch and a half long, connected by a central piece much thicker 

 than they, in which, upon one side, and next to the flat side of the blade, is the socket for the 

 insertion of the pole-shank. In this same central enlargement is forged an opening to which the 

 harpoon-line is attached. The dart-head is usually made of steel; sometimes of iron, which is 

 generally galvanized; sometimes of brass. 



The entire weight of the harpoon-pole, shank, and head should not exceed 18 pounds. 



The harpoon line is from 50 to 150 fathoms long, and is ordinarily what is known as " fifteen- 

 thread line." At the end is sometimes fastened a buoy, and an ordinary mackerel keg is generally 

 used for this purpose. 



In addition to the harpoon, every swordflsherman carries a lance. This implement is pre- 

 cisely similar to a whaleman's lance, except that it is smaller, consisting of a lanceolate blade, 

 perhaps 1 inch wide and 2 inches long, upon the end of a shank of five-eighths inch iron, perhaps 

 2 or 3 feet in length, fastened in the ordinary way upon a pole 15 to 18 feet in length. 



4. THE MANNER OF FITTING THE VESSEL. 



The swordfish are harpooned from the end of the bowsprit of a sailing vessel. It is next 

 to impossible to approach them in a small boat, All vessels regularly engaged in this fishery are 

 supplied with a special apparatus for the support of the harpooner as he stands on the bow- 

 sprit, and this is almost essential to success, although it is possible for an active man to harpoon 

 a fish from this station without the aid of the ordinary frame-work. Not only the professional 

 swordfishermau bat many mackerel schooners and packets are supplied in this manner. 



