SWORDFISH 



and Genoa, for from November to the 1st of March 

 young ones are taken in the Straits of Messina, ran- 

 ging in weight from half a pound to twelve pounds. 



In the Mediterranean, as has been already stated, 

 the young fish are found from November to March, 

 and here from July to the middle of September the 

 male fish are seen pursuing the female over the 

 shoals, and at this time the males are easily taken. 

 Old swordfish fishermen, Captain Ashby and Cap- 

 tain Kirby, assure me that on our coast, out of 

 thousands of specimens they have taken, they have 

 never seen one containing eggs. I have myself dis- 

 sected several males, none of which were near breed- 

 ing-time. In the European waters they are said often 

 to be seen swimming in pairs, male and female. 

 Many sentimental stories were current, especially 

 among the old writers, concerning the conjugal 

 affection and unselfish devotion of the swordfish, 

 but they seem to have originated in the imagina- 

 tive brain of the naturalist rather than in "his per- 

 ceptive faculties. It is said that when the female 

 fish is taken the male seems devoid of fear, approaches 

 the boat, and allows himself easily to be taken, but 

 if this be true, it appears to be the case only in the 

 height of the breeding season, and is easily under- 

 stood. I cannot learn that two swordfish have ever 

 been seen associated together in our waters, thoi^h 

 I have made frequent and diligent inquiry. 



There is no inherent improbability, however, in 

 this story regarding the swordfish in Europe, for the 

 same thing is stated by Professor Poey as the result 

 upon the habits of Tetrapturus. 



The only individual of which we have the exact 



163 



