TALES OF FISHES 



tached at the rim of the eye and the other farther 

 back. The optic nerve was as large as the median 

 nerve of a man's arm — that is to say, half the size 

 of a lead-pencil. There were three coverings over 

 the fluid that held the pupil. And these were as 

 thick and tough as isinglass. Most remarkable of 

 all was the ciliary muscle which held the capacity 

 of contracting the lens for distant vision. A sword- 

 fish could see as far as the rays of light penetrated 

 in whatever depth he swam. I have always sus- 

 pected he had extraordinary eyesight, and this dis- 

 section of the eye proved it. No fear a swordfish 

 will not see a bait! He can see the boat and the 

 bait a long distance. 



Doctor Riggin found no sperm in any of the male 

 fish he dissected, which was proof that swordfish 

 spawn before coming to Catalina waters. They are 

 a warm-water fish, and probably head off the Japan 

 current into some warm, intersecting branch that 

 leads to spawning-banks. 



This was happy knowledge for me, because it 

 will be good to know that when old Xiphius gladim 

 is driven from Catalina waters he will be roaming 

 some other place of the Seven Seas, his great sickle 

 fins shining dark against the blue. 



