Animals: Swordfish v. Sharks

Two fishermen off Devil’s Island, at the entrance to Halifax Harbor, one day last week sighted the sickle-shaped fin of a swordfish speeding shoreward. Surprised to see a swordfish so close to land, they pursued it. Soon they saw the reason. Behind it was a school of sharks. As they watched, the swordfish turned, attacked one of its pursuers. The sharks surrounded it, cutting off its flight. No sooner had the swordfish beaten off one shark than another was upon it. The fishermen counted eight sharks. For 15 minutes unnoticed by the battling fish they watched while the water grew red about the boat. Then there was a lull and a moment later the swordfish appeared floating belly up on the surface. Before the sharks could devour it the fishermen drove them oft. hoisted what was left of the carcass into their boat. Minus head and tail it weighed nearly 300 Ib.

Fine game for fishermen, the broadbill swordfish frequently runs afoul of sharks. Two years ago Thomas Montgomery Howell, famed Chicago stock & grain operator, was swordfishing (he has caught four broadbills) off Montauk Point, L. I. with his small son and Captain Bill Fagan when he saw a long-drawn battle between a mako shark and a broadbill. Time after time the swordfish aimed its lethal snout at the shark, but each time the shark was too quick, raked the swordfish’s hind end until “the sea looked like shredded wheat.” As the dying swordfish was being pulled into Capt. Fagan’s boat, the shark attacked again, was harpooned to prove the story.