SWORD-FISH, SPEAR-FISH AND CUTLASS-FISH. 241 
In Cuba, the Spear-fishes are called ‘‘ Aguja’’ and ‘‘ Aguja de Palada’’; 
the Sail-fish, ‘‘ Aguja Prieta’’ or ‘‘ Aguja Voladora’’; Tetrapturus albidus 
especially is known as the ‘‘ Aguja Blanca,’ T. albidus as the ‘‘ Aguja de 
Casto.”’ 
In the West Indies and Florida the scabbard-fish or silvery hair-tail, 
Trichiurus lepturus, a form allied to the Xphias, though not resembling 
it closely in external appearance, is often called ‘‘ Sword-fish.’’ The 
body of this fish is shaped like the blade of a saber, and its skin has a 
bright metallic lustre like that of polished steel; hence the name. 
Sword-fish are most abundant on the shoals near the shore and on the 
banks during the months of July and August; they make their ap- 
pearance on the frequented cruising grounds between Montauk Point and 
the eastern part of George’s Banks some time between the 25th of May 
and the 2oth of June, and remain until the approach of cold weather 
in October and November. The dates of the capture of the first 
fish on the cruising ground referred to are recorded for three years, 
and are reasonably reliable; in 1875, June 20; 1877, June 10; 1878, 
June 14. 
South of the cruising ground the dates of arrival and departure are 
doubtless further apart; the season being shorter north and east. There 
are no means of obtaining information, since the men engaged in this 
fishery are the only ones likely to remember the dates when the fish are 
seen. 
The Sword-fish comes into our waters in pursuit of its food. At least 
this is the most probable explanation of their movements, since the duties 
of reproduction appear to be performed elsewhere. Like the tunny, the 
blue-fish, the bonito, and the squeteague, they pursue and prey upon the 
schools of menhaden and mackerel which are so abundant in the summer 
months. ‘* When you see Sword-fish, you may know that mackerel are 
about,’’ said an old fisherman to me. ‘‘ Where you see the fin-back 
whale following food, there you may find Sword-fish,’’ said another. 
The Sword-fish also feeds upon squid, which are at times abundant on our 
banks. 
To what extent this fish is amenable to the influences of temperature is 
an unsolved problem. We are met at the outset by the fact that they are 
frequently taken on trawl-lines which are set at the depth of one hundred 
fathoms or more, on the off-shore banks. We know that the temperature 
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