Do broadbill swordfish like black cats?

Written by Ernest Windle, The Catalina Islander 1924.


"do black cats make the best broadbill swordfish bait?""is it unlawful to use a live cat as a bait to catch swordfish?"
These two questions are now receiving considerable attention among the Catalina sea fraternity. No one has yet tried the stunt at Avalon.
Anglers arguing in favor of the experimental state that the big broadbills are caught outside of the three mile limit and "on the high seas", consequently it would not be illegal to try the experiment. Those that are opposed to the plan state that it would be unsportsmanlike, and no matter whether it was on high seas or not, it would be "cruelty to animals."
The report that black cats made good bait for catching swordfish, is said to have come from the Mexican commercial fishing grounds near Cape San Lucas, lower California.
The report is as follows:
One of the San Pedro commercial fisherman near Cape San Lucas became violently angry at a black cat that had sneaked on board his fishing launch while the boat was tied to the dock at San Pedro. "It was always in his way," he said , so he kicked it overboard.
Then the fishing launch was about ten miles from shore, the report said. In a repentant mood, the captain of the fishing launch went to the cabin to get a rifle to shoot the cat. He circled the fishing boat to get a better aim.
Out popped the head of a Broadbill swordfish.
One swipe of the great sword and the cat was lifted clean out of the water, apparently dead.
The swordfish immediately swallowed the cat.
"Get rid of the whole d----- bunch." the commercial fisherman is reported to have said to one of his crew. There were three little black ones and one with stripes.
One at a time the kittens dropped overboard.
The Broadbill swordfish is said to have followed in the wake of the fishing launch, until the last kitten, striped like a little tiger, was dropped into the sea. This kitten the Broadbill swordfish refused to kill.
Watching the antics of the swordfish the fishermen became interested, turned back, and picked up the little striped kitten. It was brought back to San Pedro, the report stated.
The problem of placing a live kitten on an angler's fishing line so that the animal could be trolled as bait for swordfish is an additional puzzle. To pierce the live kitten's body with a fish hook, would be cruelty to animals. A dead cat would have no more attraction in the water than an artificial lure, dead flying fish, rock bass or barracuda.
Frankly, folks we are very fond of dogs and cats.
Our "admiration" for the angler using a live cat for a swordfish bait would probably cause us to give unusual publicity to the socalled sportsman.