SANTA CATALIKA ISLAJ^TD SWOEDPISH 



average of two hundred pounds. All were taken on rod and reel. 

 The best individual catch was that of Mr. Smith- Warren of the 

 Tuna Club, who with Capt. George Farnsworth as boatman, 

 landed six swordfish in one fishing, Captain Willie, a pro- 

 fessional swordfish fisherman of ISew England, now of Avalon, 

 tells me he has seen the arrival of these swordsmen of the sea at 

 Santa CataUna, the school being made up of thousands of the 

 big fish lying in the San Clemente channel. They undoubtedly 

 come in from the outer banks or sea in big schools, then break 

 up or pair. 



The common Atlantic swordfish, XipMas gladius, is also occa- 

 sionally found in CaKfornia, and I am told by Mr. T. S. Manning, 

 honorary Secretary of the Tuna Club, that a number have been 

 hooked ; but they were unmanageable' and too heavy. It is 

 possible that this explains several of my experiences. I have 

 had several strikes well inshore, but in deep water, by some fishes 

 that were so irresistible that I merely pointed the rod at the un- 

 known and let the six hundred feet of line go to save the rod. 

 The whole line, apparently, was jerked from the reel. An old 

 boatman of mine watched a battle to the death between a 

 XipMas and a Tetrapterus. They sailed about one another, 

 occasionally charging with terrific force. I found one of these 

 fishes, the Tetrapterus, that had floated into Catalina Harbour. 

 It was pierced in several places, once through the eye, literally 

 stabbed to death. 



The great XipMas has a much longer sword than its Cahfornian 

 cousin, and is yet uncaught with rod and reel, though Dr. Pinchot 

 played one over an hour ofE Block Island, and will yet land the 

 game. There is more or less interest in taking it with the harpoon 

 or ' lily iron ' off Cape Cod, where a fleet of schooners follow the 

 game in summer. I have watched the vessels unloading at 

 Boston, the holds being fuU of the big fishes packed in salt. 

 The meat is in constant demand in ISeyf England. 



This fish, so far as known, breeds in the Mediterranean and, 

 doubtless, on the high seas. The young are strange little creatures, 



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