SPEARING SWORDFISH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 282, 2 December 1935, Page 2

SPEARING SWORDFISH

FOR SALE AS FOOD NOVA SCOTIAN TRADE They make an art out .of swordfishing in New Zealand, but swordfish are so plentiful off Nova Scotia that there it is a trade, and a lucrative one, as it has been realised th-at the flesh of those swordfish is a delicacy. While the controversy in New Zealand Press raging about the comparative kindliness to the swordfish of light and heavy tackle, treble hooks, etc., they were driving harpoons into him. oif Cape Breton, and making it pay. The industry has developed on a large scale in Nova Scotian waters only during the last few years. There was only one boat plying that particular trade in 1902, but in 1934 there were 1200, and this year the fleet is estimated to number 1500 vessels, while it is expected that over 1,000,0-'JOlb. of the fish will be marketed at a price favourably comparable with the best chicken and beef. The fish commence to school off Cape Breton about August J, though they show up as early as June further south, and the Cape Breton run continues until late in September. The catch is boxed and iced, and sent to Boston in refrigerated cars. The record season catch of 1,000,0001 b. realised £12,000. The craft engaged in this industry are from, five to 15 tons burden, and carry crews of from three to five, the -five-crew boats being [ American schooners. j The craft used are mostly auxiliary I trawlers, and on the end of the bowsprit is fixed the “ pulpit,” a triangular platform with waist-higk supports,' in which the harpooner stands. Resting in front of him is a 15-foot pole, to which is affixed a twofoot length of iron, with an arrowshaped head. To this head is fastened a rope, aud when the quarry is struck, a twist loosens bhe head. The rope is neatly coiled in a tub near the tailrail, and about 80 fathoms in length, nt the end of it being attached a buoy. The fish plays itself until the men in the dinghy which all these craft tow go out and give the coup de grace. This lucrative business has been brought dc-wn to a fine art. High up on the mast are the look-out men, whose business it is to locate the fish and direct the man at the tiller. Most of them are struck under water, and as many as three or four may be speared and lighting for life before an attempt is made to bring any of them aboard. The swordfish follow the squid, herring, and mackerel shoals, and when caught are usually gorged with these small fish. The buoyed struck fish are left sometimes for many hours, as 10 c-r 15 miles further may be covered before the catch is complete, but there is an unwritten law that one fisherman does not touch another’s fish. Trawling operations for groundfish are carried out by many boats at night, and harpooning swordfish by day. Swordfish cannot be seen at night. A ten-day trip by one such boat produced 125,0001 b. of groundfish by trawling at night, and 47 swordfish by spearing in the daytime. This trip returned £BOO. Expenses, of course, are fairly heavy. A 50-footer, with 14ft. 6in. beam, of 19 tons gross, carries a 40 h.p. engine, and uses 400 gallons of fuel for an average trip, and there is ice to pay for. Trips run from two to three weeks, and sometimes to a month, and seamanship and skill are needed, not only to catch swordfish, but to weather the storms and fogs. One catch of .11 fish weighed 17001 b., and was reported sold at 35 cents a lb.