Southern shield., 1853-07-09
A Shark Story.

The Charleston Courier the other day contained an account of spotted shark caught in that hafbor, which, after being landed, was delivered Of twenty-five young ones, and after she was cut open, was found to contain twenty one more.
 Upon this, the question has been raised, whether the shark IS oviparous or viviparous. All the writers Of nat 1, ural history unanimously agree that the shark does not spawn, but brings forth it's young in a living state: BlnI!g- ley states that they are protruded alive in a square pellucic, horny case, ter minated at the corners by long fila, ments, which are found twisted around coralliries, seaweeds, etc. Pennant says that the spotted shark produces nine to fourteen young at time.
 Upon the whole, the weight of au- thority on the viviparous side of the |duestIon rather smashes the shark egg theory, and we therefore side with the Courier.
 Whilst on the subject of sharks, we may as well pursue another branch Of lit. We have heard persons laugh at the idea that the shark ever attacks the living man. The say that the stories about such things are hobgobblin con cerns. In proof of this, they bring up the South Sea Islanders, who fearlessly and harmlessly swim amongst the sharks. It may be that these Island CTS have learned to conquer the mon lsters; but we believe, nevertheless, that others less learned have been food for them. Bingley mentions an instance of a gentleman, living and well know in England, who was pursued by a shark and rescued, losing only leg, which was torn off by single snap of the monster. He also tells the follow | ing romantic tale of youth belonging to an English ship laying at Barbadoes:
 "Some of the men were bathing, when large shark appeared and sprung forward directly at them. A person from the ship called out to warn them of their danger; on which they all i'm mediately swan to the vessel and ar rived in perfect safety, except one poor fellow who was cut in two by the shark almost in reach of the oars. A com trade and most intimate friend of the unfortunate victim, when he observed the severed trunk of his companion, was seized with a degree of horror that words cannot describe. The unsuitable shark was seen traversing the bloody surface in search of the remainder of his prey, when the brave youth plunged into the water, determined either to make the shark disgorge, or be buried himself in the same grave. He held in his hand a long and sharp pointed kinfe, and the rapacious animal pushed
 furiously towards him; he had turned on his side, and opened his enormous | jaws, in order to seize him, when the youth diving dextrously under seized | him with his left hand somewhere be-
 low the upper fins, and stabbed him several times in the belly. The shark
 enraged with pain and streaming with
 blood, plunged in all directions in or
 der to disengage himself from his en-
 emy. The crews of the surrounding vessels saw that the combat was decid-
 jed; but they were ignorant which was slain, till the shark, weakened at length
 by loss of blood, made towards the shore, and along with him his conquer CT; who, flushed with victory, pushed his foe with redoubled ardor, and with
 the aid of an ebbing tide dragged him
 on shore. Here he ripped up the bowels
 of the animal, obtained the severed remainder of his friends body, and
 buried 1t with the trunk in the same grave"