Connecticut western news., 1882-06-21
PREPARING TO CATCH SHARKS.
How a Big Fellow Defeated Four Stout Irisbmen in a Tug of War.
From the New York Sun.]

Stout Irisbmen in a Tug of War.
 From the New York Sun.l
 When sharks were numerous in New York Bay last summer, all attempts at catching the very largo ones failed This year the trial Is to be renewed. Shark fishers are preparing theit lines and hooks, and with last years experl- ence to guide them they hope to suc- ceed i'll landing some monsters. It Is very difficult to exhaust shark on a line. Generally the fishermen get tired first, for in this sort of sport there is little opportunity for the exercise of skill, but there is a great demand for strength. To fish for sharks success fully it is necessary to have long line and chain leader attached to the hook, which should be baited with fresh blue6sh or a couple of weak fish. A large block of wood is used for a floater, and is anchored by stone fast ened to piece of common fishing line. In this way the bait is kept in the de- sired position. When the big foater goes down the fishermen jump up and grab the line. If there Is spile or any thing to take turn around, so much the better; but if there Is nothing of the kind, as Is usually the case when fish ing on beach, a tug of war is immedi- ately commenced between the sportsmeh and the shark. The latter always gets the start, and the difficulty is to turn him. Once turned the hauling becomes less difficult, until the shark finds him. self getting into shallow water. Then, if he is very big fellow and his op- ponents are not sufficiently numerous, there are ten chances to one that he will manage to turn again. This is the critical moment. If he Is strong enough to turn he should get line and be per mitted to run a reasonable distance, when the chance of turning him again becomes far better than when he is in the shallow water. Then the work of hauling is resumed, and sore hands be- come prevalent.
 Painting, almost exhausted, and bathed in precipitation, three stout Irishmen hauling on line hailed boatman one day last fall from the Staten Island shore, near the mouth of the Narrows "Oome ashore, boss, and give us pull; we've got shark P they shouted. The boatman lost no time in going to their relief. He was powerful man, and the pull that he gave the line turned the shark head on for the beach, and he be- gan to come quickly.
 "He has given up the game" one oi the party said. "He thinks it ain't 8 square deal, and that we had no right to call for help"
 "Keep him coming P sad the boat. man. "Don't give him chance to change his mind p
 "Now, Pat," one of the party shouted, "the moment we pull him out you must go and take the hook out oi his mouth p
 "Eh I" said Pat. "Be gob, you can go and do it yourself l 1 don't banker after the Job."
 The four men pulled the monster easily enough until he reached the shal- low water. Then he refused positively to go any further. They rugged and strained. He plunged furiously. Just at this critical iuncture there was dis union among the Irishmen, some favor ing concession some coercion.
 "Give him line P the boatnan shouted.
 "Not an inch ]" said coercionist.
 "Now. boys, all together p
 No, no; he is too strong yet ?!
 "Pulll"
 "Don't pull p
 Taking advantage of this want of unity, the shark made terrific plunge and turned again. Then he darted off, making the line whistle through the water. Coming near the end of the line, which was 600 feet in length, he showed no disposition to slacken his speed. So the men braced themselves for another effort. Planting their heels in the sand, they began to haul, but the big fellow was too much for them. Step by step he compelled them to advance to the edge of the water. They 6e. clined to go in, and the shark would not come out. A renewed struggle of a most desperate character was immedi. ately commenced. Suddenly the foul Irishmen fell all in heap in the sand The shark was gone.
 "Well, we had sport with him, any way" one said.
 "Do you call it sport" another said, to be dragged up and down the sand fol an hour, and then get nothing for il but sore hands ?"
 "That's what call powerful sport, ' the first speaker replied.
 Well," his companion said, "I'l never play tug of war with that old shark again"
 The Newspaper Instinct.