120 FISH-CULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 
I give also a few lines from an old play, quoted by Scott asa 
heading to one of the chapters of “ The Antiquary ”: 
‘“ Who is he? One that for the lack of land 
Shall fight upon the waters—he hath challenged 
Formerly the grand whale: and by his titles 
Of Leviathan, Behemoth, and so forth 
He tilted with a swordfish.-—Marry, sir, 
Th’ aquatic had the best—the argument 
Still galls our champion’s breach.’’* 
Baron Lahontan, in a letter from Quebec, November 8th, 
1783, described an engagement between a whale and a sword- 
fish which took place within gunshot of his frigate. He re- 
marks : 
“We were perfectly charmed when we saw the swordfish 
jump out of the water in order to dart its spear into the body of 
the whale when obliged to take breath. This entertaining show 
lasted at least two hours, sometimes to the starboad and some- 
times to the larboard of the ship. The sailors, among whom 
superstition prevails as much as among the Egyptians, took this 
for a prestige of some mighty storm.” 
Another early observer wrote: 
“ Concerning the Death of the Whale, which hath been related 
to have been stranded upon Wew Lugland, it is not very impro- 
bable but that it may have been killed by a certain Horny Fish, 
which is said by Mr. Zerry, in his East India Voyage, to run his 
Horn into the Whale’s Belly; and which is known sometimes 
to run his Horn into Ships, perhaps taking them for Whales, 
and there snapping it asunder, as happened not long since to an 
English Vessel in the West Indian Seas.”’} 
saw it with the teeth that garnish its weapon. The sea is stained with blood; the fury of the 
whale is boundless. The swordfish harasses him, strikes him on every side, kills him, and 
flies to other victories Often the swordfish has not time to avoid the fall of the whale, and 
contents itself with presenting its sharp saw to the flank of the gigantic animal about to crush 
it. It then dies like Maccazeus (szc), smothered beneath the weight of the elephant of the 
ocean. Finally, the whale gives a last few bounds in the air, dragging its assassin in its 
flight, and perishes as it kills the monster of which it was the victim.” 
|* * Old Play,’ Antiquary, chap. xxx.] 
+ Travels in Canada, 2nd ed., London, 178s, 2 vols. 8vo. 
t¢An account of whale-fishing about the Bermudas by an understanding and hardy Seaman - 
Phil. Trans. abr. ed. ii., p. 844. 
