Wichita eagle., 1888-05-16
THE SHARKS HABITS.

THE SHARKS HABITS.
Ex-coNsUL NICHOLAS PIXIES oPlN-
IONS AND OBSERVATIONS.
As Many a. 100 Seen at . Time I'm the
Indian Ocean-Hooking . Couple Of
Specimens-Several Thrilling Incidents.
Col. Nicholas Pike, formerly United States
consul at Oporto, Portugal, and later on the
Island of Mauritius, in the Indian ocean, is
a well known authority in natural history.
Calling at his residence one evening recently
said:
"You must have had some interesting en-
counters with sharks, presume, during your
natural history researches in the Indian
ocean!"
"Yes," he replied, ''that region swarms
with them. Many Of them are exceedingly
dangerous and they grow to be very large,
some being taken twenty-seven feet in
length. They generally remain near the bot
tom, coming to the surface only in search Of
prey. At points along the coast Of the Sea
Shell group Of islands have seen as many as
100 sharks at one time through the clear
water. Once a number Of English naval Of
ficers and myself thought we would engage
in shark hunt. We procured number Of
strong lines, hooks and pieces Of raw pork.
In order to make sure Of the sharks coming
to the surface we took with US pail Of bull
locks blood, and when we reached the local
ity most frequented by the voracious ami
mails we emptied the contents of the pail
upon the surface Of the water. We got mora
than we bargained for. The sharks came
about us in swarms The blood seemed to
make them ferocious and they would stick
their heads up out of the water, apparently
looking for the animal that was bleeding.
We were frightened out Of our wits and
pulled for shoal water Frequently we had
to stop and beat them off with our oars, fear
ing that they wonld tip the boat over. They
followed us even into shoal water, and when
we landed We fred at them with our revol-
vers.
A COUPLE OF SHARES
81 had an excellent opportunity to study
the habits Of the shark while at Mauritius,"
said Col Pike, 'because then made COM
plete collection of the fish of the Indian
ocean. When the Duke Of Edinburgh came
to Port Louis on one Of his cruises be ex-
pressed desire to see q specimen OF real
man eating shark, and volunteered one day
to capture one. Accordingly took my boat
and a Malay crew and set out. l was par
ticular to take boat without any keel, be-
cause sharks will dart under boat and tear
off a keel without half trying. Besides lines,
hooks and bait, 1 carried whalemans spade
This is an instrument shaped like car
penter's chisel, but as big as your hand and
fixed on pole say ten feet long. Thus
equipped we proceeded to the outer reef off
Port Louis. Reaching deep water we threw
out our lines baited with chunks of pork
The ocean was perfectly calm, and after
waiting some time took pull at one of tho
lines and found that it was fastened to some
thing. Then there was a fierce jerk from
the other end which nearly careened the
boat.
II knew that we had hooked one and
almost simultaneously the other lines were
made taut, and could see we were to have
our hands FULL The shark first hooked now
became fierce and was thrashing and slash
ing about in the most threatening manner.
I seized my whalemans spade and stood erect
in the bow of the boat. He was coming
direct for US with his mouth wide open.
When within range made fierce lunge at
him, which fortunately severed the vertebra
and the hugo fish keeled over on its side dead
The second one was not so easily dispatched,
and when we finally did kill him his head
was resting on the side Of the boat, having
made spring out of the water in attacking
us. The third one we Unanswered with for
over On hour before we could kill it. One
of the sharks measured twenty-five feet, and
its liver made a barrel of oil The three,
after being exhibited at Port Louis, were
stuffed and sent to Professor Agassiz and
are now in the Museum of Comparative 10
ology at Cambridge, Mass.
GREEDY FLESH EATERS.
All the meat that was brought to Port
Louis came in vessels and the cattle were
lowered into the water and made to swim
ashore. It was not an uncommon thing for
the sharks to seize q live animal and make
away with it. In order to study the habits
of this wonderful fish more thoroughly, /
once took dead bullock and anchored it in
tho parts most frequented by them. / then
waited to see no they would pull him to
pieces. They would go of some distance
and then swim swiftly toward the bullock
tearing great circular pieces out of the
launches. In one hour there was not sim
gle vestige of the bullock left So intent
were they upon their prey that they allowed
me to put moose around their tails and drag
them on the reef, where we killed them
Three specimens captured in this way were
sent to tho Smithsonian Institution at Wash
ington.
Once there were two men of the coast of
Mauritius in pirogue, or what we would
call a dugout. A ravenous shark seemed
determined to have them, and finally sue
ceeded in turning the boat over. The men
drew their clasp knives and tried to defend
themselves, but one of them was swallowed
by the fish without an apparent effort, and,
strange to say, he did not then seem to be
satisfied. The people on the shore who had
witnessed this tragic event determined to
capture the monster, and, accordingly, they
killed kid and fastened it to hook. For
time the shark swan, around it, apparently
suspecting something, but finally swallowed it
and the delighted natives hauled him ashore.
The fish was opened and l saw the body of
the man, which was taken out, and have the
knife which he held in his hand
Masters Of whaling vessels have told me
that they have known sharks to jump out of
the water and take pieces of meat which
were suspended from the ships side. The
ship Ellen Wallace was anchored in the bar
Dor of Port Louis at one time and sailor
asked permission of the captain to so ashore.
He was refused and accordingly jumped
overheard, determined to swim ashore. He
was swallowed by shark before he had COW
cred half the distance I also saw his body
taken out of the fish. Brooklyn Eagle