The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-07-31
Shark Fishing Off Jersey.

In the summer of 1873, wealthy gem
tleman of New York wished to secure a
man eating shark, none of which had been
numbered among his curiositics. He un-
bosomed himself to certain medical gem
tlcman' who offered to command an expe-
dition 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 pro-
cccdcd to the Jersey coast near Elizabeth.
lodgings were found among the fishermen
living along the coast Every day the
Doctor and his hearty crew pushed their
boat through the perilous surf, and rowcd
out 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
summers sun. Every night they landed in
Il tremendous surf, an operation which was
attended with no little danger. On the
third day, in the afternoon, their effort
were a success. They caught two sharks,
one little fellow, the other Il monster:
lie was more than thirteen feet long. How
he struggled to get free The men stood
by the oars and rowcd with might and
main for the shore, the shark pulling in
opposite directions. 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 had to be
taken to the city upon catboat which was
at anchor in the Shrewsbury, half mile
distant. The boat could not be got nearer
and the shark safely put on board, on ac-
count of the high sea. The Doctor had
supplied himself with boatman's repairing
float, upon which to transport the shark
across the bar to the river. The shark was
a dangerous fellow-a fact which was tho
roughly appreciated by the Doctor and his
crew. He was then Struggling in the
meshcs 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, us he
might, with single snap of his mighty
jaws, sever mans arm or leg, or, in fact,
bite him in two bodily. So the nets were
drawn about him and he was slowed
around, his tail pointing inland. Then the
men dashed into the surf and pushed the
float under him. He was thus hauled
ashore, the process being witnessed by Il
multitude of spectators from the country
round about. Finally, the monster lay
high and dry, and the Doctor and his cola
borers paused for rest, the day being very
hot. Then came the most laborious under
taking of all, the pushing of the float across
the strand. Rollers were laid upon the
sand, and the float propelled from behind.
The immense fish was confined by wooden
spikes placed on either side. The Doctor
worked with a zcst. He not only COM
mandcd the movements Of the crew, but
put Ills own slIUuluur ~ tho wheel. SLOWLY
the unwicldly mass was propelled across the
hot sand. The shark was restive. A part
of the force were kept at work pouring
water over him to keep him alive. The
scalding sun made this all the moro difli-
cult. 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 certain point, passed a
handspikc, 10 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 it in two as if it had
been reed. The handspike was Of white
oak, and at least two inches in thick
ness. Respect for the shark was by this in
cident increased. 1t was 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 enlivencd
by the following exciting events: One Of
the men got too near the monsters tail; a
moment later the man was struck power
ful blow and knocked into tho water. He
appeared to have been stunned, and disap-
peared. The doctor dived after him, and
as no came up, struck his head against the
botrom Of the float. He crawled from un-
der 1t, 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 catboat headforcmost
His snout touched the boats side. The
great jaw opened again and took mouth
full out of the boats timbcrs as large rs the
head Of barrel. Then tie shark hunters
more than ever realized what an ugly Gus
toner they had to deal with, still they
were determined to prescrvcrc. The cap
tain Of the boat, however, was disglsted.
81 never want to see another shark, and I
want $50 for the damage done to my boat "
His anger was finally appcascd, and by a
good deal Of lifting the man. cater was
tumbled upon the deck.
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