The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-07-26
OUR STORY TELLER
Shark Fishing off Jersey

New York Start
Last summer Mr. Reiche wished to
secure a man-eating shark. none of
which had been numbered among his
curiosiJies. He unbosomed himself
to certain medical gentleman, who
offered to command an expedition to the
coast of New Jersey to catch one of
these creatures, and the offer was
readily accepted. Men, boats and drag
nets were secured, and the expedition
proceeded to the jersey coast, near
Elizabeth. Lodgings were found among
the fishermen living along the coast.
Every day the doctor and bis hearty
crew pushed their boat through the
perllous surf, and rowed mile or two
from land. The nets were set, and the
crew worked patiently all day. For
three days the doctor and his men, clad
in rough clothing, and wearing big
brimmed straw hats, worked in the hot
summers sun. Every night they landed
ina tremendous surf, an operation which
was attended with no little danger.
On the third day, in the afternoon,
their efforts were crowned with success.
They caught two sharks-one a little
fellow, the other monster. He was
more than thirteen feet long. How he
struggled to get freel The men stood
by their oars and rowed with might and
main for the shore the shark pulling in
an opposite direction. The oarsmen
had the best of it, however, and after
long and laborious pull they reached
the shore. First, the BOAT had to be
landed; then the nets must be secured
to stakes driven into the sandy beach.
The shark was to be taken to the city
upon cat-beat, which was at anchor in
the Shrewsbury, half a mile d slant
The boat could not be got nearer, and
the shark safely put on board, on
account of the high sea.
The doctor bad supplied himself with
boatman's repairing float upon which
to transport the shark across the bar to
the river. The shark was dangerous
fellow-a fact which was thoroughly
appreciated by the doctor and his crew.
He was then struggling in the meshes
OF the nets, making the water fly in
every direction. In order to get him
ashore the float must be showed under
him and pulled in by main strength. 1t
would be dangerous TO approach him in
front as he might with a single
snap of his mighty jaws sever a
mans arm or leg, or, in fact.
bite him in two bodily. So the
nets were drawn about him, and he
WAS slowed around, bis tail pointing in
land. Then the men dasl ed into the
surf and pushed the float under him.
He was thus hauled ashore, the process
being witnessed by multitude of spec
tators from the country round about.
Finally the monster lay high and dry,
and the doctor and his eolaborers paused
for rest, the day being very hot Then
came the most laborious undertak-
ing of all, the pushing of the
float across the strand. Rollers
were laid upon the sand, and the
boat propelled by handspikes from be-
hind. The immense fish was confred
by wooden spikes placed on either side.
The doctor worked with a zest. He not
only commanded the movements of the
crew, but put his own shoulder TO One
wheel. Slowly the unwieldly mass was
propelled across the hot sand. The
shark was FESTIVE. A part of the force
were kept at work pouring water over
him to keep him alive. The scalding
sun made this all the more difficult.
The monotony of the passage was
relieved by the struggles of the man
eater. The men fought shy of his
deadly jaws. The doctor, at a certain
point, passed handspike to one of his
assistants, and in doing so placed it near
the monsters mouth. As quick as
lightning the huge jaws snapped at it.
and bit 1T in two as if it had been reed.
The handspike was of white oak, and at
least two inches in thickness. Respect
for the shark was by this incident
greatly increased.
1t was four O'Clock p. m. when the
bulky load reached the bank of the
Shrewsbury. The float was pushed off
into the river and toward the boat. The
river was shallow, and The men, waded
by the edges of the float and pushed it
along. The passage of the river was
also enlivened by the following exciting
events: One of the men got too near
the monsters tail q moment later the
man was struck powerful blow and
knocked into the water. He appeared
to have been stunned, and disappeared.
The doctor dived after him, and as he
came up struck his head against the
bottom of the float. He crawled from
under it, however, in time to see the
man whose rescue he had sought rise
above the surface but little hurt.
The shark was pushed toward the cat
boat headforemost His snout touched
the boats side. The great laws
opened again, and took mouthful out
Of the boats timbers as large as the head
Of barrel. Then the shark-hunters
more than ever realized what an ugly
customer they had to deal with; still
they were determined to persevere. The
Captain of the boat, however, was dis.
gusted. never want to see another
shark, and | want twenty dollars for the
dirage done TO my boat" His anger
was finally appeased, and by a good deal
OF lifting the man-eater was tumbled
upon the deck.
The anchor was weighed and the sails