SWORDFISH 



crossing the mouth of the Arhngton River, where 

 the water is nearly fresh. 



Many individuals of the same species are taken 

 every year at the mouth of the St. John's River at 

 Mayport. Steam states that they are caught in 

 the deep waters of the bays about Pensacola, swim- 

 ming nearly at the surface, but chiefly with hooks 

 and lines from the wharves. He has known them 

 to strike at the oars of the boat and at the end of 

 the ropes that trailed in the water. At Pensacola 

 they reach a length of twenty to thirty inches, and 

 are considered good food fish. Richard Hill states 

 that in Jamaica this species is much esteemed, and 

 is fished for assiduously in a "hole," as it is called 

 — that is, a deep portion of the waters off Fort 

 Augusta. This is the best fishing-place for the 

 cutlass-fish, Trichiurus. The fishing takes place be- 

 fore day; all lines are pulled in as fast as they are 

 thrown out, with the certainty that the cutlass has 

 been hooked. As many as ninety boats have been 

 counted on this fishing-ground at daybreak during 

 the season. 



