250 THE SWORD-FISH. 



refuse food that is thrown overboard. It is rather a pretty fish, the general color being silvery 

 white and blue. The lateral line is covered, near the tail, with a row of spinous plates. It is 

 somewhat remarkable that this fish, when hooked, endts a rather loud chattering kind of noise, 

 thought to proceed from the passage of air through the gills. The flesh of the Rudder-fish is 

 rather coarse, but is digestible and nourishing. Another fish {Pammelas perciformis), found 

 in the seas of Northern America, is sometimes called by the name of Rudder-fish. 



The family Carangldoe — from Caranx, the generic name of several of the groups — 

 embraces twenty-five genera, and one hundred and eighty sj^ecies, called, collectively. Pilot 

 Fishes. Most are widely distributed, and are excellent food. They abound in wai-m waters, 

 and move northward in summer. The familiar Horse Crevalle is one of the group ; and the 

 Mackerel Scads. The Cobbler-fishes, Moon-fishes, and the notable Pompano, also are 

 included. The Common Pompano {Trachynotus caroUnus) is one of the choicest food-fishes 

 in the south. It ranges northward to Cape Cod, though is not taken so far north in 

 quantities. 



Closely allied to these fishes is the well-known Horse Mackerel {Trachtirus saurus), 

 sometimes known by the popular name of Scad. Its picture is to be seen on page 245. 



This species is common in tlie European seas, and occasionally apijears in enormous 

 shoals, almost rivalling in numbers those of the common mackerel, and crowding so closely 

 against each other that tliey cannot escape if threatened by danger, and may be taken out of 

 the sea by hand or dipjjed out in buckets. The flesh of the Horse Mackerel is rather coarse, 

 and when fresh is held in very slight esteem. However, it readily takes salt, and is then 

 much eaten, especially during the winter months. 



The color of the Horse Mackerel is dusky olive on the upper part of the back, changing in 

 certain lights to resplendent green, which descends down the sides, and is variegated by wavy 

 bands of blue. The sides of the head and the abdomen are silvery-white. The lateral line is 

 furnished with a row of strong and deeply keeled bony plates, which give to the hinder part of 

 the Ijody a somewhat squared outline. 



The well-known Sword-fish, represented in the accompanying full-page illustration, 

 derives its j)opuhu' name from the curious development of the snout, which projects forward, 

 and is greatly prolonged, into a shape somewhat resembling a sword -blade. The "sword" is 

 formed by the extension of certain bones belonging to the upper part of the head. 



This fine fish is foixnd in the Mediterranean Sea, and also in the Atlantic Ocean, and in 

 the former locality is often very plentiful. The Sicilian fishermen are accustomed to pursue 

 the Sword-fish in boats, and mostly employ the harpoon in its capture. The weapon is not 

 very heavy, and by a strong and practised hand can be hurled to some distance. 



The fisliermen are acciistomed to chant a kind of song, set to words which no one can 

 understand, but wliich are supposed to be the more efficacious for their incomprehensibility. 

 This song is thought by some writers to be a corrujition of some old Gi'eek verses, and the 

 fishermen believe that the Sword-fish is so fond of this song that it follows the boat in which 

 it is sung. They will not venture to speak one word of Italian, thinking that the Sword-fish 

 would understand what they were saying, learn that they contemplated its death, and then 

 dive and make its escape. No bait of any Idnd is employed, the unintelligible chant being 

 thought to be far more efficacious than any material aid. 



The flesh of the Sword-fish is always eatable and nourishing, and in small specimens 

 is white and well-flavored. 



The use of the " sword " is not clearly ascertained. In all probability the fish employs this 

 curious weapon in gaining its subsistence, but the precise mode of so doing is not known. It 

 is an ascertained fact that the Sword-fish will sometimes attack whales, and stab them deeply 

 with its sharp beak ; and it is also know^l that this fish has several times driven its beak 

 so deeply into a ship that the weapon has been broken off by the shock. In such cases, the 

 blow is so severe, that the sailors have fancied that their vessel has struck upon a rock. 

 Several museums possess examjiles of pierced planks and beams, but it is possible that the 



