THE SWORDFISII 211 



cast ropes about it and secured it. Its length was over 

 11 feet, its weight 390 pounds, and the length of its sword 

 3 feet 7 inches. 



The Swordfish is a food fish of very good standing in New 

 England, where it is sliced and salted, and widely esteemed. 

 In 1898 the total catch was 1,617,331 pounds, valued at 

 $90,130. For the year 1913 the output was 1,809,840 pounds, 

 valued at $162,699. 



The food of this fish consists of menhaden, mackerel, 

 bonitoes, bluefish, herring, whiting and squids. 



Under the auspices of the famous Tuna Club of Santa 

 Catalina Island, California, the Swordfish has been given a 

 permanent place in the ranks of the big game of the sea, 

 and its place in the club book is next to that of the great 

 leaping tuna. The conditions governing its captiu-e on a 

 sportsman's basis are the same as those governing the chase 

 of the tuna, and up to this date (1914) the highest records 

 are as follows: 



W. C. Boschen, New York, 1913 355 pounds 



C. G. Conn, Elkhart, Indiana, 1909 334 pounds 



L. G. Murphy, Converse, Indiana, 191'-2 318 pounds 



John E. Stearns, Los Angeles, California, 1910 242 pounds 



In the ethics of sportsmanship, the anglers of America are 

 miles ahead of the men who handle the rifle and shotgun in 

 the hunting-field. Will the hunters ever catch up ? 



The anglers have steadily diminished the weight of the 

 rod and the size of the line; and they have prohibited the 

 use of gang hooks and nets. In this respect the initiative of 

 the Tuna Club of Santa Catalina is worthy of the highest 



