The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-07-17
OUR STORY TELLER
Shark Fishing off jersey.
INew York star.l

Last summer Mr. Reiche wished to
secure a man-eating shark, none of
which had been numbered among his
curiosities. He, unbosomed himself
to a 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. Led dyings were found amopg
the fishermen living along the coast.
Every day the doctor and his hearty
crew pushed their boat through the
perilous surf, and rowed a 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
summer'ssun. Every night they landed
in a tremendous surf, an operation which
was attended with no little danger.
On the third day, in the afternoon,
their efforts we're crowned with success.
They caught two sharks-one a little
fellow, the other a 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 a
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 mile distant
The boat could not be got nearer, and
the shark safely put. on board, on
account 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 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. IL
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 we're drawn about him, and he
was slowed around, his tail pointing in
land. Then the men dashed into the
surf and pushed the float under him.
He was thus hauled ashore, the process
being witnessed by multitude Of spec.
tltors from the country round about. ,
Finally the monster lay high and dry
and the doctor and his colaborers paused
for rest, the day being very hot. Their
came the most laboriousr undertak
ing Of all, the pushing of ths
float across the strand. Rollers
we're laid upon the sand, and the
boat propelled by handspihps from be-
hind. The immense fish was confrec
by wooden spikss placed on either side
The doctor worked with 1est. He no
only commanded the movements of tn,
crew, but put his own shoulder to th'
wheel. Slowly the unwieldly mass wa,
propelled across the hot sand. Tn,
shark was restive. A part Of the fore
were kept at work pouring water owe
him to keep him alive. The scaldiu,
sun made this all the more difficult.
The. monotony of the passage wa
relieved by the struggles Of the man
eater. ;ssThe men fought shy of hi
deadly Jaws. The doctor, at a certain
point, passed a handspike to one of hi
assistants, and in doing 80 placed it nea
the monsters mouth. As quick a
lightning the huge jaws snapped at it
and bit il in two as If it had been reed
TIE handspike was of white oak, and a
least two inches in thickness. Respec
for the shatk was by this inciden
greatly increased. :
bulky load reached the bank of th,
Shrewsbury. The float was pushed Of
into the river and toward the boat. Th
river was shallow, and the men wade,
by the edges of the float and pushed il
along. The passage of the river wa
also enlivened by the following exciting
events: One Of the men got too nea
the monsters tail; a moment later tn
man was struck powerful blow an,
knocked into the water. He appeare,
to have been stunned, and disappeared
The doctor dived after him, and as h
came mp struck his head against tn
bottom Of the float He crawled from
under it, however, in time TO see tn
man whose rescue he, had sought ris
above the surface but little hurt
The shark was pushed toward the cat
boat headforemost. His snout touche,
the boats side. The great law
opened again, and took mouthfui ou
OF the boats timbers as large as the hea,
Of barrel. Then the shark-hunter
more than ever realized what an ugl,
customer they had 10 deal with; stil
they were determined to perseveres Tn
Captain of the boat, however, was dis
gusted. never want to see anothe
shark, and / wmt twenty dollars for tn
damage done TO my boat" His ange
was finally appeased, and bya good des
OF lifting the man-eater was tnnbie'
upon the deck. ass..i sai - =
The anchor was weighed and the sail
set. The doctor expected with fai
winds TO reach New York by ten o'cloc
that morning. II was then almost darl
The men were, exhausted with thei
days work. The doctor accordingly
ventured to take charge of the Graf
while the men slept, He was as tire
as ANY Of them, hrt being in comman
he wished to set a good example. Tn
Captain gave him instructions as to tn
directions I'm which, to steer; and
seated himself at ther taler y The me
went below and turned in. They wei
soon fast asleep. For two hours and
half they slept, the Doctor meanwhil
keeping the craft steadily on her cours
He had been given instructions to ste,
in the direction ofConsy Island; TT