Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-06-12
NEW SERIES VDAo s77NOo go8A
qwmsDAY MDRNana, JUNE 49, 1882

OF the line, may nix ltseli In part OF the Jaw 90
weak, that it gives way in the violent struggl,
which always follows. The secret of the spor
is, to let the voracious monster gulph down tn
huge mess of pork, and then to give the rope
violent pull, by which the barbed point, quitting
the edge of the bait, bures itself in the coats Of
the victims throat or stomach. As the shark is
not parsonage to submit patiently to such treat
| ment, it will not be we'll for any one whose foot
happens to be accidently on the coil Of the rope,
for, when the hook is first fixed, it spins out like
| the lOg.line of ship going twelve knots.
The suddennes Of the jerk with which the
poor devil is brought up. whenhe has reached the
length of his tether, often turns him quite over
| on the surface of the water. Then commence
the loud cheers, taunts and other sounds of rage
and triumph, so long suppressed. A steady pull
is insufficient to carry away the line, but it some
times happens that the violent struggle Of the
shark, when too speedily drawn up, snaps eth
er the rope, or the block, and he gets of, to d.
gest the remainder as he best can. 1t is, &C
cOrdingly, held the best practice to play him
little. with his mouth at the surface, till he be-
comes somewhat exhausted. During this opera
ton, one could almost fancy the enraged animal
IS concious of the abuse which is flung down up.
on him; for, as he turns and twists and filings
himself about, his eyes glare upwards with fe-
rocty of purpose which makes the blood Jingle
in swimmers veins, as he thinks Of the hour
when it may be his turn to wrthe under the ten
der merces of his sworn foe! No sailor, there
fore, ought ever to think of hauling shark on
board merely, by the rope fastened to the hook;
for, however impotent his struggles may general.
ly be in the water, they are rarely unattended
with riskw hen the rogueis drawn half way up. TO
prevent the line breaking or the hook swapping,
or the jaw being torn away, the devise OF running
5ow-line knot, is always adopted. This moose,
being slipped down the rope and passed over the
monsters head, is made to jam at the point OF
junction of the tail with the body. When this IS
once fixed, the first act of the piece is held to be
complete, and the vanquished enemy is after
wards easily drawn over the taffrail and flung
on the deck, to the unspeakable delight OF all
hand. But althou Oh the shark Is out OF his ele-
ment, he has by no means lost his power OF do
ing mischief; and would advise no one to come
within the range Of the tail, trust his toes near
the animals mouth. The blow Of tolerable
large sized sharks tail might break mans leg;
and have seen three-inch hide tiller rope bit.
ten more than half through, full ten minutes at
ter the wretch had been dragged about the quar-
ter deck land had made all his victors keep at the
most respectful distance. | remember hearing
the late DR.. Wollaston, with his wonted inse-
nuity, suggest method for measuring the
strength Of sharks bite. If smooth plate OF
lead, he thought, were thrust into the hsh's
mouth, the depth which his teeth should pierce
the lead would furnish sort OF scale Of the force
exerted."