THE SAILFISHES Family XXXV. Istiophoridae Body elongate, much compressed, covered with elongate scutes; bones of upper jaw consolidated into a sword, which is roundish on the edges and spear-like, shorter than in Xiphias; jaws with small, persistent granular teeth; ventral fins of 1 or 2 rays each, attached to a pelvic arch; dorsal single or divided into 2 contiguous portions, the first much longer than the second, the fin-rays distinct, the first rays of dorsal distinctly spinous; anal divided, last rays of dorsal and anal suctorial; caudal peduncle with 2 fleshy crests or keels; vertebrae 12+12=24, elongate, hourglass-shaped; neural and haemal spines flag-like; ribs well developed; air-bladder very large, sacculate, of numerous separate divisions; intestine short, straight; gills reticulated as in Xiphias. Two genera, with about 5 species, oceanic, similar in character and habits to the swordfishes, but smaller in size. The genus Istiophorus contains a single species (I. nigricans), known variously as sailfish, spikefish, boohoo, guebucu, voilier, agula volador, etc. The sailfish occurs in the West Indies and warmer parts of the Atlantic north to Key West and France. It is rather common about the Florida Keys, and examples have been taken at Newport and Savannah. It reaches a length of 6 feet and is an excellent food-fish. The genus Tetrapturus, distinguished from Istiophorus by having but one ray in the ventral fin, contains 2 species, the most important of which is T. imperator. Among its common names are spearfish, billfish, and aguja blanca. This great fish reaches a length of 7 feet or more and a weight of 150 pounds. It is found among the West Indies and on our coast occasionally as far north as Cape Cod. It is probably identical with the species found in southern Europe. They swim in deep water, according to Poey, and pass Cuba in pairs in summer. The spearfish is sometimes taken on the hook. When the fish has swallowed the hook it rises to the surface where it makes 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 spearfish 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 spearfish is attached to the fisherman's line, it often receives frightful wounds from these adversaries. The other species, T. amplus, is a rare fish occurring in the West Indies. It reaches a length of 10 feet or more and a weight of 800 pounds. It is the aguja de casta of the Cubans, and would be an important food-fish were it more abundant.