318 . HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 
Mackerel vessels on the New England coast are always prepared for swordfish when cruising 
among mackerel schools. I am not aware that they are ever seen on the mackerel grounds of the 
Gulf of Saint Lawrence. 
2. THE VESSELS. 
The vessels engaged in swordfishing are sloops and small schooners of generally less that 50 
tons. The crew is also small, consisting of two or sometimes three men besides the cook and a 
boy. Although many vessels are employed in this fishery for several successive years, there are 
many others which fit out for a single season or for a part of a season. Others, on the south coast 
of New England, divide their time between fishing for sea-bass and hunting for swordfish, all 
warm and quiet days being devoted to the latter pursuit. Six or eight vessels from New London 
are thus employed, as well as others from Noank and Bridgeport. On the coast of Maine, as has 
already been mentioned, many of the smaller fishing vessels fitted for the capture of mackerel and 
cod devote a part of the season to taking swordfish. Other vessels, among them occasionally a gen- 
tleman’s yacht, enter the field for a cruise or two in the course of asummer. To do this is a favorite 
recreation for old swordfishermen engaged in other work. Numerous mackerel schooners carry 
the swordfish “ pulpit” on their bows, and so do various coasters and packets. 
It has therefore not been thought desirable to attempt to make a list of the vessels engaged 
in this fishery, or even an exact enumeration of them. In 1879 estimates by careful men engaged 
‘in the business fixed the number belonging in different ports as follows: 
New York (hailing from New London).........-220cecceececcee ceccce access piewawawas'eus's 2 
Greenport SlOODB vais esau cewecisiaics setasecescwsecidacaes see's seasons ceeoes csdeee waeeewawes es 2 
New Lond 08 vcieeienisescsesicenisaee wiewiaeaiabiaeenaecsice sane sees soeecaiswonsecsisens cowees sereaews 8 
NOWPOED sions ceescinianjcinsie cite csarenind sijeicisieinw wed wiexcseiys ds cee adeneiteews Swatsecoe meeioeskeeese 1 
Ball River scciswis: sicjnwciaiwien tsiilaia ait aie cia seitwiala, sere nes Selendaie eles sles ewniow edie selnde acim teiscaveiee 2 
Cabby Ras oie: siunis ca cere sean wicieaisisisieis daisies oa We emeis eine He ole saieiniee eeiesineicnes cece sem cesinsece DS 
Westport sia .sniis sre sinieenieisicierawitin’ueie'sie’sicinis oie nies Uo sis ives winin tine sinsae a enslelssisisaniewe ontis sesmeeeed 2 
New: Bedfordl:s. oc cccewiccsesiress tiene teteh sew deme stensiecisidicaeis seed eesisesceceilsauic nou osseeeces's 13 
Dartmouth: Goce ce. e ek odes sues ucescedcaewesis aluiswnse Shddwedmenace es cuibe vuscessecesen 2 
Houth, side. Of CapoiCOd x saicic sec acs gee ccs Sesto cielaicie 'satesiee nic ciessecics seuss see tesneceseteweis 5 
GlOuGeSbOr: J2.2c5 ssc do.co 52 bee saath dindedaes cab roe seieesicisie ce Vela c'ecte ives edu ee eeieee viseeens 1 
OGAL sails ssdisisiecciiss Sessawmteccaineneeessieo cs secmesenioredeustnesis scececeseucases 41 
In 1874, according to Mr. Thompson, New Bedford had twelve vessels in this fishery. In 1877 
the estimates of total number of vessels made by different men varied between thirty and forty. 
To show how uncertain the continuance of vessels in this fishery may be I will refer to the 
annals of Gloucester. In 1876, one schooner, the Meteor, was engaged; in 1877, the schooner 
Champion; in 1878, the schooner Northern Eagle; while in 1879 and 1880 the field was abandoned 
by this port. 
3. APPARATUS OF CAPTURE. 
The apparatus ordinarily employed for the capture of the swordfish is simple in the extreme. 
It is a harpoon with detachable head. When the fish is struck the head of the harpoon remains 
in the body of the fish, and carries with it a light rope, which is either made fast or held by a man 
in a small boat, or is attached to some kind of a buoy, which is towed through the water by the 
struggling fish, and which marks its whereabouts after death. 
The harpoon consists of a pole 15 or 16 feet in length, usually of hickory or some other hard 
‘wood, upon which the bark has been left, so that the harpooner may have a firmer hand-grip. This 
pole is from an inch and a half to two inches in diameter, and at one end is provided with an iron 
rod, or “shank,” about 2 feet long and five-eighths of an inch in diameter. This “shank” is fast- 
ened to the pole by means of a conical or elongated cup-like expansion at one end, which fits over 
