Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-05-28
MisftllarreDl1s.


Sailors, as is well known. bear mos
deadly enmity towards the race of sharks.
Hannibal's hostility to the Romans can
give but faint idea of hostile feelings Of
sailors towards this monster Of the deep.
They Will do almost anything towards
capturing one at any hour of the day or
night, even when it is their watch below.
they would willingly mount on deck IT,
assist in the capture, or to witness its suf-
ferings when on board. This feeling
may arise from the frequent instances Of
sailors being deprived of their limbs. and
often their lives. by sharks. and the sup
erstitions feelings which exist among
them, that if any one Of their number dies
on board shark is sure TO know it, and
will follow the ship until the body is
thrown overheard, when it will immedi-
ately devOur it. They regard, therefore.
the capturing of shark as an act OF
retributive Justice; for though, as they are
ready to admit, the poor victim that falls
into their hands may have done nothing
worthy of death, yet they look upon him
as the representative of his race. and be-
stow their revenge accordingly.
The shark is very stealihy in his move
ments; he may be close about the ship
without being perceived, though more
frequently his approach is seen by the
dorsal fin appearing few inches above
the water, but seldom any other part of
the body is seen. My gentleman is no
sooner seen, than the news flies fore and
aft the ship that John il in the neighbor-
hood (John being name generally ap-
piled to shark.) The fishing gear is
Immediately got ready, and which con-
sists OF hook about IS inches long, made
of bar iron the thickness of ones little
finger; TO the hook is attached chain
and to the chain one of the stoutest spare
ropes On board The bait generally used
is piece of salt pork, four or five pounds
in weight; this apparatus is thrown over
the stern, and the bait is kept about so
shark is such gourmand, yet he does
not always allow his voracity To get the
better of his judgment; for when he first
espies the alluring bait. he does not RASH
" snap at it, but swims around and be-
meath. and examines it attentively. Very
frequently he makes off without attempt
ing bite; at other times he succeeds in
nibbling the bait by degrees entirely away.
and as frequently tears the whole piece off
the hook; so that it is no easy matter to
capture the shark. | have been for DAYS
in ship followed by them. and every eff
fort made to catch one, but in vain.
On one occasion we we're followed by a
shark to whom we had thrown an invita-
ton. and which he was not long in accept
ing; for in the course of a few minutes he
darted towards it, turned upon his back,
and the next instant was seen plunging
and flashing his tail in a most furious man
ner. We saw he had taken the hook, and
was so far secured; but still he was but
half caught as the sequel will prove. All
the spare hands were called to lay on the
shark line, in order to haul him on deck.
We soon got him along side; but on ac-
count OF his violent plunging. f. und it i'm
possible to get him on board. unless he
was allowed to exhaust some of his i'm
mense strength. To assist this, our mate
proposed happening him; and in the alb
sence of a proper instrument, took the
boat hook, to which he attached a line and
after few attempts. succeeded in fasuen-
ing il in the fore part of the back. when. sing
ular to relate. my gentleman, by viotnet
tug, snapped the rope, and made himself
off with the boat-hook sticking like flag
staff erect in his back. He remained in
sight for some time. evidently very I'M
easy; but whether he succeeded in olsen
gaging himself fiom this disagreeable ap-
pendage. know not.