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PKOCEEDINGS OF THE 



[July, 1856. 



gregate; and their presence upon the feeding ground is indicated by a slight 

 projection above the water of one of their wings. The motion is so rapid 

 and bird-like, that none who have once seen it will mistake, or ascribe it to 

 any other fish. Sometimes, though not often, you may approach him while 

 feeding in shallow water, near enough to strike; but the best opportunity is 

 offered by waiting quietly near the spot where he has disappeared, until 

 having ceased to feed, he strikes out for the deep water, and having reached 

 it, begins a series of somersets, that give the sportsman a capital chance to 

 strike him. It is a very curious exhibition. You first see his horns or feel- 

 ers thrown out of the water ; then the white stomach, marked with five gills 

 or branchial apertures on each side, (for the fish is on his back) then his tail 

 emerges. After a disappearance for a few seconds, the revolution is repeat- 

 ed, sometimes as often as six times. It happens occasionally, that in making 

 these somersets, the fish does not rise quite to the surface, but is several feet 

 below; so that his revolutions are detected by the appearance and disappear- 

 ance of the white or under part of his body, dimly seen through the turbid 

 water in which he delights. Sometimes indeed he is unseen ; but his pre- 

 sence is shown to the observant sportsman by the boiling of the water from 

 below, as from a great cauldron. With no better guide than this, the har- 

 poon has been darted down, and reached him twelve feet below the surface. 



When one of these fish is struck, he commonly darts off with great rapidi- 

 ty, running out the forty fathoms of rope, and then dragging along the boat 

 with quite as much speed as is agreeable. If several boats are in company, 

 they attach themselves to the first, and the little fleet is dragged merrily 

 along. The prudent sportsman will not draw too violently on him at first, 

 but will suffer him to exhaust himself by his efforts, when he is as quietly as 

 possible drawn to the surface, by putting three or four hands to the rope. 

 When seen, a second harpoon is driven into his body. Then commences the 

 serious conflict. He is forced up by the line — he flounders and lashes the 

 waves with his immense wings, or plunges desperately for the bottom, to 

 which he sometimes clings for hows, till exhausted at last he yields to the 

 force which draws him to the surface, and is despatched with many wounds. 

 Occasionally, after having three harpoons fastened in him, and as many lan- 

 ces plunged into his body, he strikes out indomitably for the ocean, and es- 

 capes. I have been carried twenty-five miles in the course of a few hours by 

 two of these fish, (having struck a relay when my first escaped, and losing 

 both,) with three boats in train ! ! 



It is the habit of this fish to ply its arms rapidly before its mouth while it 

 swims, and to clasp with the utmost closeness and obstinacy whatever body 

 it has once enclosed. In this way the boats of fishermen have often been 

 dragged from their moorings and overset by the Devil-fish having laid hold 

 of the grapnel." 



The first intimation we have of this monster inhabiting the waters of the 



