XIPHIID^E. 147 



Nantes. — Stcordfish, so named from its elongated snout, also rasour (Halliwell). 

 Zwaardviscli, Dutch, ISEspadon, French. 



Habits. — This fish is very swift in its movements, wary and vigilant against 

 surprises, and but seldom seen alone, generally going in pairs. It frequently 

 migrates along with the tunnies, which some believe it does for company, others 

 in order to attack them. It is occasionally taken in brackish or even fresh water, 

 especially the Severn. As already observed (page 144) due to some cause these 

 fishes attack whales and objects often larger than themselves, and the question 

 forces itself upon our consideration if this is done from the desire to obtain 

 food or whether the animal is possessed of such a morose disposition that it is in a 

 constant state of warfare. In the Weston-super-Mare Museum is the cast of one 

 of these fishes, 9 feet long, captured in 1873 near the town. On its left side, 

 opposite the hind edge of its first anal fin, existed a large cicatrix, evidently due 

 to a wound consequent on an injury which had nearly transfixed it, there being 

 a spot on the opposite side showing to where the injury had extended. The 

 appearances seemed to show that it had been inflicted by another of the same 

 family, perhaps during the breeding season. Such may, however, be simply an 

 instance of matrimonial infelicity, for Lacepede considered that in spite of some 

 of its actions its habits are gentle and its affections lively. In short, he remarked 

 that if the shark were compared to a tiger, the swordfish might be classed 

 with the lion. 



According to Couch, in August, 1861, near Westra, a Herring-hog (a species 

 of small whale) was attacked by a swordfish, and when thus compelled to 

 leap out of the water, which it did to the height of 6 feet, it was observed 

 that the sword had been thrust into the whale's body behind the pectoral fins. 

 Its leaps continued, and then it was perceived that a thrasher was assailing it 

 on the sides. 



Bloch states that this fish sometimes feeds upon vegetable substances. Fleming 

 found the remains of Loligo sagittata in the stomach of one he examined. 

 Leach discovered some small fish inside a large one. Pilchards have been observed 

 in them, while they have been taken on a baited hook. 



Means of capture. — As their sharp, depressed, and laterally cutting snouts are 

 destructive to nets, the harpoon is preferred as an implement for taking them 

 in seas where they abound. Brydone has given an account of harpooning 

 these fishes in Sicily. A scout, perched on the mast of a vessel, notifies to 

 his comrades when he perceives a " spada " : then they all commence a chaunt 

 which is believed to be indispensable to success, and alluring the fish to his 

 destruction. The harpooner throws his implement at his victim, which he rarely 

 misses. Should, however, a single word of Italian be uttered the spell from 

 the chaunt is broken, and the fish plunges down into the vasty deep, from 

 which it will not again be charmed. In the Mediterranean a regular fishery 

 exists for their capture. Oppian describes the mode pursued as follows. 

 A bait was fastened by means of a sliding noose to the line at some distance 

 above the hook, and it was so contrived that when the fish seized the bait it 

 glided along until the hook stopped its progress when the fishermen knew by 

 the jerk that it was time to haul tight the slip knot. 



Mr. North, in a 6-oai^ed galley, captured one October 20th, 1843, 10 feet long, 

 off Deal, "a little way to the south of the outer beacon leading to Sandwich 

 Haven. He saw the fish in about 4 feet of water, rowed towards it, and observed 

 that it appeared far exhausted in strength : he then ventured to put a small rope 

 with a running noose over its tail, and after playing with it some time succeeded 

 in putting other ropes round the fish, and got it on board " (Zoologist, 1843, 



Couch mentions one taken in drift nets in October, 1861, near Land's End : 

 and in June, 1879, one 11 feet long, became entangled in mackerel nets off 

 Eddystone lighthouse, and after two hours' exertion, was hauled on board. It 

 is known to cause great injury to nets, and even to escape by cutting its way 

 out by means of its sword-shaped snout. 



As food. — Its flesh has been reported as excellent. Mr. Gurney (Zool. 



10* 



