SWORDFISH 



jected to be hooked and took its revenge by running full tilt 

 against copper sheathing and oak planking. 



The food of the swordfish is of a very mixed 

 nature. 



Doctor Fleming found the remains of sepias in its 

 stomach, and also small fishes. Oppian stated that 

 it eagerly devours the Hippuris (probably Cory- 

 phoena). A specimen taken off Saconnet July 22, 

 1875, had in its stomach the remains of small fish, 

 perhaps Stromateus triacanthus, and jaws of a squid, 

 perhaps Loligo pealin. Their food in the western 

 Atlantic consists for the most part of the common 

 schooUng species of fishes. They feed on men- 

 haden, mackerel, bonitoes, bluefish, and other 

 species which swim in close schools. Their habits 

 of feeding have often been described to me by old 

 fishermen. They are said to rise beneath the school 

 of small fish, striking to the right and left with their 

 swords until they have killed a number, which they 

 then proceed to devour. Menhaden have been seen 

 floating at the surface which have been cut nearly 

 in twain by a blow of a sword. Mr. John H. Thomp- 

 son remarks that he has seen them apparently 

 throw the fish in the air, catching them on the fall. 



Capt. Benjamin Ashby says that they feed on 

 mackerel, herring, whiting, and menhaden. He has 

 found half a bucketful of small fish of these kind in 

 the stomach of one swordfish. He has seen them 

 in the act of feeding. They rise perpendicularly out 

 of the water until the sword and two-thirds of the 

 remainder of the body are exposed to view. He 

 has seen a school of herring at the surface on Georges 

 Banks as closely as they could be packed. A sword- 



XI 161 



