Chumash and broadbill

The Swordfish in Chumash Prehistory
John R. Johnson, Ph.D.
Curator of Anthropology, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

The fascination that the swordfish held for the Chumash is well documented in myth, art, oral history, and material culture. The Swordfish Dance was an important part of Chumash ceremonies, and at least three rock art sites contain explicit depictions of this species. Swordfish remains are found frequently in archaeological sites along the Santa Barbara Channel, and certain nonedible parts of the fish's anatomy were modified for both ceremonial and utilitarian purposes. New studies based on museum collections help us reconstruct the prehistory of the Chumash swordfish fishery and correlate its development with technological and environmental changes.

According to Chumash tradition, all the creatures of the sea had counterparts on the land. For example, the Chumash considered the sardine to be like the lizard; and the lobster, like the Jerusalem cricket ("potato bug"). People venerated the swordfish as "people of the sea" - marine equivalents of human beings. They believed swordfish drove whales ashore to provide plentiful food for the people on land. Marine biological literature documents that a factual basis lies behind this Chumash legend, because there are reports around the world of swords embedded in stranded whales.

Frequently both swordfish skeletal remains and finished artifacts made from these remains have been recorded from archaeological sites throughout the Santa Barbara Channel region. The Chumash modified swords, vertebrae, and vertebral spines for digging implements, cups, and needles. They made headdresses from the swordfish cranium and decorated them with abalone ornaments for dances.

Swordfish remains first appeared in 2,000-year-old archaeological deposits in the Santa Barbara region. Prior to this time, they have been notably absent in collections from both island and mainland sites. The advent of successful Chumash swordfishing appears simultaneously with two technological innovations: the plank boat (or tomol) which allowed for greater mobility and speed, and the barbed harpoon foreshaft that could be thrust into the fish when it "basked" near the surface in calm waters.

It seems logical that most finds of swordfish skeletal parts might be recovered in island and mainland deposits nearest the places known today as the best fishing areas, but the data only partly support this expectation. The distribution of archaeological sites containing swordfish remains extends beyond the current area of the most productive fishery. According to commercial fishermen, swordfish today rarely enter the main part of the Santa Barbara Channel, yet their remains have been recovered from many prehistoric middens between Ventura and Gaviota.

Climatic changes may account for the differences between the archaeological record and modern observations. Based on analyses of sediment cores, the reconstructed sea temperature curve for the Santa Barbara Basin shows that channel waters have been cooler during the most recent 900 years than they were during the preceding millennium. Most swordfish remains in the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History collection are from archaeological sites dating between 2,000 and 900 years ago when sea temperatures were mostly warmer in the channel. This discovery illustrates how archaeological finds may provide additional information about past environmental conditions as well as illuminate Chumash cultural history.

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Three odd tuna Jigs

These jigs are very unusual vintage tuna jigs made in San Pedro, California. Each is marked S R Cressey(the maker was Stephen Cressey). The heads are a glass or crystal material. Would love more info and to add to my collection.

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.

Still looking for old fishing tackle

After over 20 years of collecting vintage fishing tackle you would figure I would have it all. Well not quite. I am searching for old tuna jigs. Bone and Ivory jigs are the most commonly found but I am looking for them inlayed with different materials. Inlays include abalone, mother of pearl, catalin, bakelite and wood. Other materials that the old jigs were made of were wood. Those inlayed with abalone are a favorite. Lastly I am looking for lures called Hetzels. They were made in Hermosa Beach by a Frank Hetzel. Materials were catalin, plastic and Bakelite.
Another item I am looking for is sportboat memorabilia. Any sportboat Items from the 30's - 70's. Old photos of Jack Ward, Bill Poole, Russ Izor, Jim Peterson, Dick Helgren, Cookie Cook, ect.
All items are being put toward a future history book on socal sportfishing.
Thanks, Eric