SWORD-FISH ,; SPEAR-FISH AND CUTLASS-FISH 253 
that both the Cuban species swim at a depth of one hundred fathoms, and 
they journey in pairs, shaping their course toward the Gulf of Mexico, the 
females being full of eggs. Only adults are taken. It is not known 
whence they come, or where they breed, or how the young return. It is 
not even known whether the adult fishes return by the same route. When 
the fish has swallowed the hook it rises to the surface, making prodigious 
leaps and plunges. At last it is dragged to the boat, secured with a boat¬ 
hook, and beaten to death before it is hauled on board. Such fishing is 
not without danger, for the Spear-fish sometimes rushes upon the boat, 
drowning the fisherman, or wounding him with its terrible weapon. The 
fish becomes furious at the appearance of sharks, which are its natural 
enemies. They engage in violent combats, and when the Spear-fish is 
attached to the fisherman’s line it often received frightful wounds from 
these adversaries. 
The Spear-fish strikes vessels in the same manner as the Sword-fish. I 
am indebted to Capt. William Spicer, of Noank, Conn., for this note : 
“Mr. William Taylor, of Mystic, a man seventy-six years old, who was 
in the smack * Evergreen,’ Capt. John Appleman, tells me that they 
started from Mystic, October 3, 1832, on a fishing voyage to Key West, in 
company with the smack ‘ Morning Star,’ Capt. Rowland. On the 12th 
were off Cape Hatteras, the wind blowing heavily from the northeast, and 
the smack under double-reefed sails. At 10 o’clock in the evening they 
were struck by a ‘ Woho ’ (sic), which shocked the vessel all over. The 
smack was leaking badly, and they made a signal to the ‘ Morning Star ’ 
to keep close by them. The next morning they found the leak, and both 
smacks kept off to Charleston. On arrival they took out the ballast, hove 
her out, and found that the sword had gone through the planking, timber, 
and ceiling. The plank was two inches thick, the timber five inches,, and 
