ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 135 
I have been told that they are also taken in this way about 
Block Island, and a similar method of fishing is described by 
Italian writers. 
Within the past three years it has not been unusual for sword- 
fish to become entangled in the long lines of the halibut fisher- 
men on the northern banks. The manner in which this occurs 
has already been discussed above. 
I have collected several instances. In 1877, in the month of 
August, Captain Daniel O’Brien of the schooner Ossipee, of 
Gloucester, fishing in two hundred fathoms of water, between 
Le Have and Western Bank, caught, in one voyage, five sword- 
fish. | 
At about the same time Captain R. L. Morrison, of the 
schooner Laura Nelson, fishing in 275 fathoms, on Sable Island 
Bank, caught three swordfish. Another vessel in August, 1877, 
fishing on Le Have, in from 175 to 180 fathoms, caught twelve, 
as well as three or four more in September. August 17th, 1878, 
Captain Joseph W. Collins, of the schooner Marion, fishing in 
the southwest prong of Banquereau, in two hundred fathoms of 
water, caught one swordfish; again, on October 1st, fishing 
southeast of Sable Island, in 175 fathoms, caught one sword- 
fish on his trawl, and saw several others swimming at the sur- 
face ; October 8th, caught another on Banquereau, in the locality 
first mentioned. In August, 1878, Captain Greenleaf, of the 
schooner Chester R, Lawrence, of Gloucester, fishing in 140 
fathoms, caught thirteen in one trip. I cannot learn that this 
manner of capture was ever known before 1876, but it has since 
become so frequent that it excites no remark for a halibut- 
catcher to unload several swordfish among its halibut. This 
manner of taking the swordfish is, of course, purely accidental, 
and is rather a vexation than otherwise to the fishermen. It is 
probable that the fish take the bait when the line is being set, 
and they are swimming near the surface, and they are involun- 
tarily carried down by its great weight. 
The vessels engaged in swordfishing are sloops and small 
schooners of generally less than fifty tons. The crew is also 
small, consisting of two or sometimes three men besides the 
cook anda boy. Although many vessels are employed in this 
