SANTA CATALINA ISLAND 8W0EDFISH 



more of a poniard than a sword ; in fact, the fish has virtually two, as the 

 lower jaw is also pointed, sharp and dangerous. A large black eye, silver 

 belly, and royal purple back ; a wide crescent-shaped tail ; slender pec- 

 torals and big tall dorsal, which rests in a sheath along its back ; is 

 the make-up of as debonair a marine lanzknecht as ever swam the seas. 



' The swordfish is very pugnacious, some very extraordinary battles 

 having been witnessed between these fish or in combat with other marine 

 warriors. Data relating to the vicious nature of swordfish have been 

 compiled, showing a list of boats and ships that have been damaged, 

 rammed or even stmk by them, including injuries iaflicted upon human 

 beings. 



' The first fish caught towed the trolling launch ten miles to sea, 

 turning the big boat around as if it had been a skifE. The longest fight 

 was three hours and forty-five minutes ; the average time for gaffing 

 the fish was one hour. One fish ran out nearly one thousand feet of fine, 

 another one, supposed to be two hundred feet astern, broke water one 

 hundred feet ahead, and in making the turn ran through the fine loop 

 and made a knot. Another one, in fighting, turned, and the heavy wire 

 leader cut him almost to the backbone. 



' A live, healthy tarpon wUl jump ten or twelve times. One of Colonel 

 Dorsey's fish jumped fifty times, another one caught turned the trick 

 forty-nine times. Many of these jumps were fifteen feet out of the water. 

 Three fish hooked broke the line and got away. The two largest sword- 

 fish taken off Catahna prior to the above catch weighed three hundred and 

 ninety -two pounds, and three hundred and thirty-nine pounds. The big 

 catch enabled Colonel Dorsey's boatman, Captain Danielson, to hold a 

 tie for a high-hook boat for the season on swordfish.' 



All things considered, the swordfish. of Santa Catalina takes 

 its place as the great spectacular game fish of the world. 



97 



