Tuna and swordfish

TThe Moluccan fleet of the Fifth Expedition sailed to the Indonesian archipelago and back to the Netherlands over the course of two years: 1601 to 1603. Along the way, the crew would frequently catch fish from the oceans and seas that the ships traversed. Many of these were drawn in the journal of the Gelderland under the command of admiral Wolphert Harmensz, giving us insights into the great diversity of species the expedition encountered.

This drawing shows a tuna (Thunnus thynnus) and a swordfish (Xiphias gladius). Joris Joostensz. Laerle, artist on board of the Gelderland, likely drew this quite lifelike depiction of the fish in the journal of the flagship Gelderland. The text says “jari”, which refers to the swordfish.