The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-10-03
Aztec LARGE Fish.

A correspondent OF ohe io" ~
Times writing from the southern more
of Long Island Sound, says:
It was with the assurance that tner
we're no sharks in Great South bay that
I came to Fire Island. 1t may be said
at once that I cams expressly to nsh
for sharks.
Cling through the haze this morning
When my sailor lad, an honest young
fellow from Bay Shore. holsted san on
a trim little sloop and hauled INTO
the channel. A hayward breeze broke
upon the calm surface OF the pay n
pushed against our little soils Win gen.
tie force. The water gurgled softly at
the bow and dubbed away, . SHINING
streak of silver. in our wake. Early as
we had started, we were later than .
handsome little sloop from the Wa Wa
Yander Club House, which was stand
ing up the bay some distance ahead.
SSThats Cap'n John Thurber, said the
sailor lad, bracing his back against the
tiller and making q spyglass of his hands.
"He's after blue fish with one OF those
CITY fellers what belongs to the club.
Heknows where the fish is, you can bet"
"You kin throw out now, said the
how ut length. "Cap'n John is a-gettin
out his lines"
Not at all unwilling to follow the ex-.
ample of SO excellent o fisherman as
Captain John, l baited a strong hook
with bunker bait and let the line run out.
Some persons troll for bluefsh with q
line as thick us a Goldfish line, but with
the sportsmanlike rod and reel the fish
has a chance for himself and the anglers
skill is taxed to the utmost. When the
fisherman is after sharks the number OF
bluetish caught is u matter of indifference
hence the basketful Of voracious two
pound sinners that were hauled aboard
the sloopi in henext half hour need not be
menti3n e here. At the end OF the half
hour we had drifted abreast the wooden
pier leading down the bay from the
hotel. Then I felt a mighty tug at the
thin line, and the next moment the
weight was as suddenly removed. 1
reeled in the line as rapidly as the
brass multiplier would work. The
bate was gone and the hook was broken
off at the shank. Without a word the
boy seized the big iron shark hook,
with its short length of chain, and
thrust q seven-inch bunker upon the
sharp barb.
Its o shark" said the boy, as the
heavy line was unreeled. But he
don't break this hook"
Then the sloop tackled back and forth
across The channel, working slowly
along with the tide. For fully ten
minutes the bait trailed along unharm-
ed.
"Hi!' suddenly yelled the boy, he's
got it,"
The line Strengthened out along The
surface OF the water with a tremendous
jerk, keeling the sloop to the leeward
as though a heavy puff of wind had
struck her main-top-sail. For a single
instant the light under side of q seven
foot shark flashed in the sun. and then
the line vent whizzing down toward the
bottom of the bay. The line was paid
out freely, and soon the shark stopped.
Haul away I shouted, bracing my
feet against the rail. The boy fell to
with a will, and the shark moved slow
ly and unsteadily toward the sloop,
Then n shower of spray from the sharks
rapidly moving tail glittered in the sun,
and before we could take a turn around
a cleat with the slack line the big fish
had rushed off ten fathoms astern.
Gently W. coaxed him back, hoping to
tire him into submission. In sullen
stiffness he came within two feet of the
sloop, and the boy reached for n
shark killer-an old bayonet fastened
firmly to the end of a hoe handle.
hHoro ;o1> l,,, 1,,n1- ~ .a.1 N -.
thrusting the weapon across the stern
sheets. Raising the spear like a har-
pooh, l drove it into the sharks gills
half a dozen times in three seconds.
The blood spurted out in great streams.
staining the side of the sloop and turning
the water a dark crimson. The shark
turned like a flash.
"Now let him go" cried the boy, who
in moment of excitement seemed gifted
with an inspiration of ~elouuence. A
hundred feet of line followed the shark
in a mad rush out into the BAY. Then
slowly, as before, we hauled it in, with
the shark hanging doggedly to a hook
that he could not crush. Again we
brought him alongside, and once more
did the glittering harpoon draw gushing
streams of blood.
"Shoot himw screamed the bow in
genuine alarm, as the shark began new
demonstration of ugliness. 1t was too late
to shoot, for before the revolver could
be brougt to bear the gamey fish was
two boat lengths to windward. Weary
with the quick work, we hauled him
in again, but with less enthusiasm than
at first. The shark too, seemed tired.
Two central-fre cartridge balls were
sent crushing through his head as he Law
q boats length from the sloop, and an
other shot stunned him SO that we we're
able to slip a moose over his tail, and
with perspiration compelling energy.
hoist him up into the standing rigging
When we had rested and annointed orr
clustered hands, We took his measure.
1t is not necessary to give the figures.
as the practice of reporting. measure.
ments and weight has fallen into djsre-
pute with the innocent and confding
public. Three hours afterward the how
showed a small pine stick into the
sharks mouth, and for his temerity
nearly lost his hand, when the dvin9
fish turned over on the musclas of b;s
tail and made a sidelong snap with ;ts
vicious jaws. The lad turned pale. md
made all haste to resume his place at the
tiller.