Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-09-27
FISHING FOR MAN EATERS.
A Long Struggle With a Powerful
Fish.

Great South Bay, Long Island, is full
OF sharks. From the island-dotted wa
ters at Far Rockaway to the dimpling
shallows at Bellport Bay the presence
of the shark Is made manifest nearly
every day in the year. Sharks may be
caught all along Great South Bay in
never-failing numbers, bat the favorite
fishing ground for knowing anglers is off
the southern stretch of Fire Island. En-.
terprising keepers Of summer resort ho-
tells will tell the timid visitor, as mat
ter Of course, that Great South Bay-in
the neighborhood Of their hotels was
never known to contain q shark, and
affect whitening air Of unbelief should
anyone persist in saying that friend Of
his caught seven-foot man eater In
plain sight Of the hotel steps. Unlike
the sea serpent, the man eating shark is
not considered desirable addition to
the attractions of seaside resort. A
shark Is altogether too practical in bis
ideas Of life to suit the iimid bather Of
the easily frightened hay fever patient.
1t was with the assurance that there
were no sharks in Great South bay that
! came to Fire 3aland. 1t may be said
at once that ! came expressly to fish for
sharks.
The uprising sun was dimly struggling
through the haze this morning when my
sailor lad, an honest young fellow from
Bay Shore, heisted sail on o trim little
sloop and hauled out into the channel.
A wayward breeze broke upon the calm
surface Of the bay and pushed against
our little sails with gentle force. The
water gurgled softly at the bow, and
bubbled away, q shining streak of silver
in our wake. Early as we had started
we were later than handsome little
sloop from the Wa Wa Wanda Club
House, which was standing up the bay
some distance aheak.
''That's Cap'n John Thurber," said
the sailor lad, bracing his back against
the tiller and making q spyglass Of his
hands. "He's after bluetish with one Of
those city fellers what belongs to the
club, He knows where the fish is, you
can es.''
"You kin throw out now," said the
boy, at length. "Cap'n John is a-gettin
out bis lines"
Not at ali unwilling to follow the ex-
ample Of so excellent o fisherman as
Capt. John, / baited q strong hook with
bunker bait and let the line run out.
Some persons troll for bluefish with
line as thick as o Goldfish line, but with
the more sportsmanlike rod and reel the
fish has q chance for himself and
the anglers skill is taxed to the
utmost. When the fisherman is
after sharks the number of the bluefish
caught is the matter of indifference,
hence the baskstful Of voracious two
pound sinners that were hauled aboard
the sloop in the next half hour need not
be mentioned here. At the end Of the
half hour we had drifted abreast the
wooden pier leading down the bay from
the hotel. Then felt mighty tug at
the thin line. and the next moment the
weight was as suddenly removed. I
reeled in the line as rapidly as the brass
multiplier would work The Lait was
gone and the hook was broken off at the
shank. Without o word the boy seized
the big iron shark hook, with its short
length Of chain, and thrust seven inch
bunker upon the sharp barb.
Its shark, said the boy, as the
heavy line was unreeled. "Bet he don't
break this hook"
Then tho sloop tackled back and forth
across the channel, working slowly
along with the tide. For fully ten
minutes the boat trailed along un-
harmed.
"Hil" suddenly yelled the boy, she's
got III!
The line straightened out along the
surface Of the water with tremendous
jerk, heeling the sloop to leeward as
though heavy puff Of wind had struck
her maintopsaiI. For single instant
the light under side of seven foot shark
flashed ON the sun, and then the line
went whizzing down toward the bottom
Of thu bay. The line was let out
freely, and soon the shark stopped.
'.Hati away" l shouted, bracng my
| feet against the rail. The boy fell to
with will, and the shark moved slowly
and unsteadily toward the sloop. Then
q shower Of spray from the sharks rap.
idly moving tail glittered in the sun,
and before we could take q turn around
cleat with slack line the big fish had
| rushed off ten fathoms astern. Gently
we coaxed him back, hoping to tire him
into submission. In sullen stiffness he
came within two feet of tho sloop, and
the boy reached for our shark -killer-an
old bayonet fastened firmly to the end
Of hoe handle.
Here, jab him, quick" said the boy
thrusting the weapon across the stern
sheets. Raising the spear like har-
poon drove it into the sharks gills half
dozen times in three seconds. The
blood spurted out in great streams stain.
ing the side Of the sloop and turning the
water dark crimson. The shark turned
like dssh.
Now let him CO." criedthe boy, who,
| in moment Of excitement seemed gift
ed with an inspiration of eloquence. A
hundred feet of line followed the shark
in mad rush out into the bay. Then
slowly, as before, we hauled it in, with
the shark hanging doggedly to hook
that he could not crush. Again we
brought him alongside, and once more
did the glittering harpoon draw gashing
streams Of blood.
..Shoot himl" screamed the boy in gen.
uine alarm as the shark began d new
demonstration of ugliness. 1t WIS too
late to shoot, for before the revolver
could be brought to bear the gainy fish
was two boat lengths to windward
Weary with the quick work we hauled
him in again, but with less enthusiasm
than before. The shark, too, seemed
tired. Two ccntrsl.fre cartridge balls
were sent crushing through his head as