nces had ever been recorded in which a
swordfish which had passed its beak through three inches of stout
planking could withdraw without the loss of its sword. Mr. Buckland
said that fish have no power of "backing," and expressed his belief
that he could hold a swordfish by the beak; but then he admitted
that the fish had considerable lateral power, and might so "wriggle
its sword out of the hold." And so the insurance company will have
to pay nearly L600 because an ill-tempered fish objected to be
hooked and took its revenge by running full tilt against copper
sheathing and oak planking.

[Illustration: A LONG, SLIM SAILFISH WIGGLING IN THE AIR]

[Illustration: FIGHTING A BROADBILL SWORDFISH]

The food of the swordfish is of a very mixed nature.

Doctor Fleming found the remains of sepias in its stomach, and also
small fishes. Oppian stated that it eagerly devours the _Hippuris_
(probably _Coryphaena_). A specimen taken off Saconnet July 22, 1875, had
in its stomach the remains of small fish, perhaps _Stromateus
triacanthus_, and jaws of a squid, perhaps _Loligo pealin_. Their food
in the western Atlantic consists for the most part of the common
schooling species of fishes. They feed on menhaden, mackerel, bonitoes,
bluefish, and other species which swim in close schools. Their habits of
feeding have often been described to me by old fishermen. They are said
to rise beneath the school of small fish, striking to the right and left
with their swords until they have killed a number, which they then
proceed to devour. Menhaden have been seen floating at the surface which
have been cut nearly in twain by a blow of a sword. Mr. John H. Thompson
remarks that he has seen them apparently throw the fish in the air,
catching them on the fall.

Capt. Benjamin Ashby says that they feed on mackerel, herring, whiting,
and menhaden. He has found half a bucketful of small fish of these kind
in the stomach of one swordfish. He has seen them in the act of feeding.
They rise perpendicularly out of the water until the sword and
two-thirds of the remainder of the body are exposed to view. He has seen
a school of herring at the surface on Georges Banks as closely as they
could be packed. A swordfish came up through the dense mass and fell
flat on its side, striking many fish with the sides of its sword. He has
at one time picked up as much as a bushel of herrings thus killed by a
swordfish