NATURAL HISTORY. 417 



season immense shoals of these fish rove along the coast. 

 The most approved method of fishing is by the "madrague" 

 or " tonnaro" A large number of long and deep nets are 

 placed along the shore, one edge being fixed to the bottom of 

 the sea by anchors and weights, and the other edge kept 

 at the surface of the water by corks. A wall is thus formed, 

 stretching along the coast for nearly a mile in length. The 

 tunnies swimming along the coast pass into this net, and con- 

 tinue their course until they are stopped by other nets placed 

 across the principal net, and dividing it into chambers. From 

 chamber to chamber the unfortunate fishes are driven through 

 openings permitting their entrance, but preventing egress, until 

 they arrive at the last chamber, called significantly the " cham- 

 ber of death." A strong net, placed horizontally, enables the 

 fishermen to draw the tunnies to the surface, when a shower 

 of blows from poles and similar weapons soon destroys the en- 

 tire shoal. 



This fish is not unfrequently found on the English coast. 



XIPHIAS. (Gr. 



shaped like a sword ; the Sword-fish.) 



Gladius (Lat. a Sword), the Sword-fish. 



The well-known SWORD-FISH inhabits every part of the 

 Mediterranean Sea, and has several times been seen near the 

 shores of England and Scotland. 



The "sword" for which this fish is so famous, is an elon- 

 gation of the upper jaw, of great strength, and capable of 

 doing considerable injury to any object against which it 



