Percomorphi 485 
The swordfish follows the schools of mackerel to the New 
England coasts. ‘‘Where you see swordfish, you may know 
that mackerel are about,’’ Goode quotes from an old fisherman. 
The swordfish swims near the surface, allowing its dorsal fin 
to appear, as also the upper lobe of the caudal. It often leaps 
out of the water, and none of all the fishes of the sea can swim 
more swiftly. 
“The pointed head,’’ says Goode, “the fins of the back and 
abdomen snugly fitting into grooves, the absence of ventrals, 
the long, lithe, muscular body, sloping slowly to the tail, fit 
Fic. 381.—Swordfish, Xiphias gladius (Linneus). (After Day.) 
it for the most rapid and forcible movement through the water. 
Prof. Richard Owen, testifying in an England court in regard 
to its power, said: 
“<Tt strikes with the accumulated force of fifteen double- 
handed hammers. Its velocity is equal to that of a swivel-shot, 
and is as dangerous in its effects as a heavy artillery projectile.’ 
“Many very curious instances are on record of the encoun- 
ters of this fish with other fishes, or of their attacks upon ships. 
What can be the inducement for it to attack objects so much 
larger than itself it is hard to surmise. 
“Tt surely seems as if a temporary insanity sometimes takes 
possession of the fish. It is not strange that, when harpooned, 
it should retaliate by attacking its assailant. An old sword- 
fish fisherman told Mr. Blackford that his vessel had been 
struck twenty times. There are, however, many instances of 
entirely unprovoked assault on vessels at sea. Many of these 
are recounted in a later portion of this memoir. Their move- 
ments when feeding are discussed below, as well as their alleged 
peculiarities of movement during the breeding season. 
