SOME FISH AND SOME FISHING 



local names for the swordfish are broadbill 

 or flatbill to distinguish him from the marlin 

 whose bill is round. I found that we were 

 four miles off shore and that "Shorty" had 

 been instructed to put me on to a big sword- 

 fish, and he did it with a vengeance. 



I looked over my shoulder and saw the 

 dorsal fin of a large fish moving slowly near 

 by and his tail, which was partly above the 

 surface, seemed to be at least six feet from 

 the dorsal fin. He was moving through the 

 water leaving no wake behind him such as a 

 shark does, and making no use of his tail; 

 this he is enabled to do owing to the great 

 power of his pectoral fins. 



The launch was slowed down. I had a 

 flying-fish on the hook and let out 150 feet 

 of line. The boatman now tried to manoeuvre 

 the boat in such a manner that the bait 

 would swing in front of and near the fish. 

 This was difficult as the swordfish was turn- 

 ing the same way we were, seeming un- 

 willing to cross our wake. 



[60] 



