ccxxxvi Teuthidid*. FISHES. XiPHiDa:. 
tliat Uie little 'i’ouicocl, which in Boston waters is too 
time of Pliny, who associates it with several others 
small to be of niucli account, is in .Maine waters quite 
as “ suitable to use as salted Fish.” He includes with 
a (lesiraljle Fish and much better flavored. It seems 
this, “ Elcatena, a Fish like the 'I’unny.” Bondelet 
that some Fishes are lar^rer and better in fiesli as eat- 
describes it under the names “Du Poisson nomine 
ables the I'arther north they are found, and the Con- 
Empereur ; Greek, Xiphius; lAitin, Gladius; in 
ner is one. 'I’liose taken at Casco Bay are nearly 
Italy, Pesce spada.” Belon says: “Jn Fi’ance it is 
equal in size to the common run of Tautog around 
named Heron de Mer and Poisson Empereur.” Strabo 
Nahant. DeKay records this species as Ctenolabrus 
describes the Sword Fishery, and regards it as ancient 
ceruleus, and Storeras Crenilabriis bergall. Its range 
as Ulysses. DeKay mentions a Sword-fish sixteen 
is from Newfoundland to Cape Hatteras. 
feet long, taken off Sandy Hook, and also says : 
RAZOR-FISH {Xyrichthys lineatus (Gmel.), Guv. 
“'i'he markets were well stored with the flesh of this 
and Val.) — This is a West Indian species, and an 
Fish. It is preferred to Sturgeon and Halibut, 
occasional visitor on our Southern coast. Chcerojulis 
which in flavor it somewhat resembles.” Storer 
grandisquamis, Gill, is a sjjecies of this family fouml 
says it is seldom seen in Massachusetts Bay, but is 
in the waters around North Carolina coast. 
a common Fish at some seasons from Block Island 
to Nantucket. We have seen it rather common off 
Family— 'I’EU'rJIlDIDiE. 
Casco Bay, near Portland. The fishing vessels there 
are provided in the season with resting bars on the 
SURGEON-FISH [Acanthurm cliirurgus, Bloch and 
bowsprit, and the lance is always at hand, ready 
Schneider) — Plate X, fig. ii. — Called Barbero in 
for immediate use, hung in the rigging of the jib- 
Cuba, and Doctor-fish in Bermuda. 'J'he illustra- 
stay. During a sojourn at Peake’s Island we often 
tion of this Fish shows on the side of the narrow 
had Sword-fish for food, and much preferred it to 
keel-like portion which unites the tail to the body, a 
Halibut. It seemed to possess the good qualities of 
triangular blade, which is capable of opening and 
the latter Fish and Blue-fish. 'I’he Sword-fish is 
closing like the blade of a knife or lancet. 'I’his 
usually seen swimming along the surface like a 
peculiar apparatus is used by the Fish for defense 
Shark, its high dorsal fin exposed. It is then seek- 
or offense as occasion requires. We have kept this 
ing shoals of Mackerel, upon which it feeds. It is 
Fish in a large aquarium situated in the waters of 
sometimes taken with a hook, but is usually captured 
the harbor at Fort Jefferson, Tortugas, on the Flor- 
by striking with the “ lily-iron.” It has the habit of 
ida Beef. Unlike many Fishes, it was easily kept 
springing forward, out of water, like the Dolphins. 
alive, and its pugnacity and courage seemed com- 
At IMartha’s Vineyard a regular fishery is kept up 
mensurate with its known powers of defense. It did 
for them, and a large portion is salted for market. 
not hesitate to e.xpose itself to any danger, and when 
'I’he largest individuals are said to weigh about 
approached in any shape it was ready to defend it- 
three hundred and fifty pounds. 'J’he peculiar weii- 
self by a side thrust of its weapon. It measures from 
pon which gives name to this Fish is a prolongation 
si.x to ten inches long. Habitat, West Indies and 
of the upper jaw or snout. Its use is not clearly 
northward. DeKay records it as A. phlebotomus. 
understood, though upon occasion it proves a most 
BLACK SURGEON {A. nigricans, Linn.) — This is a 
formidable weapon. An instance occurred of a jiilot 
West Indian species, occasionally found northward. 
boat in Boston Bay being penetrated by one. Sev- 
eral instances are extant of ship bottoms being punc- 
Family— CHAH'ODONTlDyE. 
twred, and the sword left broken and embedded, to 
testify to the wonderful power of the creature. Sir 
'I'his family derives its name from the word Chcete 
Joseph Banks records an example >vhere the sword 
— hair — the typical forms having hair-like teeth. It 
was driven its entire length into the solid wood of a 
includes some of the most remarkable shapes and the 
ship. On the coast of Brazil this Fish is said to at- 
most brilliantly and grotesquely colored of Fishes. 
tain the length of twenty-live feet. It is one of the 
On the Florida Beef great numbers are known. 
few that cross the Atlantic, being the same as that 
ANGEL-FISH (Ilolacanthus ciliaris, Lac.) — 'I’his 
inhabiting the iMediterranean Sea. 
very beautiful Fish is only occasional with us, as it 
BILL-FISH [Tetrapturus albidus). — Called, also. 
is a West Indian species ; common, also, in Bermuda 
the Spear-fish. 'I’his is common along the coast 
waters. In Cuba it is named Isabelita. This Fish 
from the West Indies to Nova Scotia. It is record- 
has been very successfully kept in the New York 
ed by DeKay as Scomberesox storeri, and figured. 
Aquarium. Sarcothrodus maculocinctus, (Jill, is an- 
Leseur calls it S. equirostrum. 'I’his Fish is seen on 
other genus, found from Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras. 
the Massachusetts coast during October in great 
numbers, where it is used as food. It is rare on the 
Family— XI PHID AH. 
coast of New York. 
THE SAIL FISH (Histiophorus gladius [Brovss.), 
'I'his family includes the typical Sword-fish, Xiph- 
Gunth.) — Called, also, Sailor-fisii and Sailor 
ias, treated by Pliny, Bondelet, Belon and other an- 
Sword-fish. A species found in the Mediterranean 
cients. 'I’hree genera, with as many species, are 
Sea has an enormous spread of dorsal fin which re- 
found in our waters. 
sembles a fan or sail ; hence the name. 'I’he tail is 
COMMON SWORD-FISH )Xiphias gladius, Linn.)— 
also extremely deep and slender. An excellent fig- 
Plate 10, fig. 53. — This Fish was well known in the 
are, in wood, is in the Histories Per um Natural ium 
