SWORDFISH. One of several fishes having an elongated snout, serviceable as a weapon: sp1.ci6eally, the single representative of the family Xipliiiffie, related to the mackerels and common in the warmer parts of the Atlantic and occasional in the Pacific Ocean. This fish has a round, very muscular body (see Plate of SDEARFISD AND Sw0nonsIz), with large fins and a crescentie tail of extraordinary size and power, so that it is able to more with extreme speed and force. As the young grow, the fore part of the body and the head increase steadily in in proportion to the posterior parts, and the upper jaw grows more and more elongated until it finally forms a flattened, sharp-edged 'sword' composed of the consolidated vomer, ethmoid and prez»axillary bones, and coated with a finely granulated hide. This weapon is about half as long as the body, and becomes so strong that it may be driven far through the planking of a rowboat or even a sailing vessel, as has repeatedly happened, probably by accident. The swordfish reaches its largest size off the coast of New Eng land, where in midsummer it comes near shore in pursuit of the schools of herring, mackerel, men haden, and other gregarious fishes upon which it mainly feeds. A swordfish finding such a
school pushes into its midst from beneath, and, striking right and left with its sword, kills or disables dozens of victims. The average size in the Atlantic is about seven feet in total length and 250 pounds in weight, but there are authentic records of fish more than twice that size. The flesh is of excellent flavor, and the capture of a swordfish is reckoned fine sport. Their spawn ing habits are little understood; and where they spend the winter, when they disappear from the American coast, is unknown.
Several other large related fishes are called `swordfish,' among them the 'sailfish' and 'spear fish' (qq.v.) of the family Istiophoriffie; the large handsome 'papagallo' (Ncinatistins pee toralis) of the Pacific coast of tropical America; and the cutlass-fish (q.v.). The best general account of the swordfish and swordfishing is by Goode, Fishery Industries, see. i. (Washington, 1834).