Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-11-12
ADVENTURE WITH SHARKS
The UDvarnt<hed Yarn spun by an Old
Yankee Fisherman.

ADVENTURE WITH SHARKS
The Upvarnt<hed Yarn spun by Old
Yankee Fisherman.
1t happened while Boston Globe
writer was paying visit to fisher
man friend not long ago that the dan
gers outside OF fishing itself came up.
The latter related the following un.
vanished tale:
/ shall never forget the time when I
was hand in q small fishing vessel
that tended the Boston market The
weather was very warm and fish
scarce; some Of the old hands thought
some kind OF a destructive fish was
playing havoc, for set our travis where
we would, they were skinned as clear
as though the job was done by hand.
One evening two men that went In
dory No. brought the news that
sharks were plenty and we had better
ship to some other berth. The anchor
was cat-headed, sails hoisted, and a
course laid out that would bring us to
Jeffries bank. which lies about thirty
or thirty five miles of Portland. The
next morning we were In our dories
and proceeded to set our fishing gear.
My partner and | took the outside on
the western end and all went we'll; we
were hauling In fish for half an hour,
with every promise OF a good catch.
WAS hauling the trawl at the time.
and felt a sudden tug and yank that
very nearly took me out OF the bow OF
the dory.
/ knew IL was sharks In minute,
and stopped hauling to see II they
would show up. Suddenly there was
twitch and pull harder than ever,
and | hauled away as lively ~ posi-
bic, knowing he would bite the line il
he could to clear himself
pulled and he tugged, but kept
the line coming all the time. First he
would tow us in one direction and then
In another. 80 ! surmised we had him
by the tail. and told my partner to
have a sharp knife ready TO cut away.
After a long and hard drag got
him to the top OF the water and found
that he had taken two good bitches
around his tall and was working
hard to get clear. The next thing to
do was to got his tail on the rail OF the
dory and cut clear. A strong pull by
both OF MS placed him at our mercy;
then ! looked overheard to see the
kind OF chap we had. and II any
thing would make fisherman feel
blue II would be look from that
angry man-eating shark that we were
fast to. He would curl up in u bow,
look at US with those cold eyes. and
Stat his body about In very danger
Gus manner; but the line was strong,
and we had him secure.
The only thing we could do was to
cut of his tall and let him go clear OF
the trawl, and my partner held on to
one side OF his tail while used tho
knife. In II minute he was clear, and
with back and belly fins to propel
with, dove for the bottom, leaving n
trail OF blood after him that knew
would cause trouble
He came up with n rush, iumpipg
full length out OF the water. and
dropped so close to our dory that the
splash nigh swamped us. We hauled
away clear OF him. and after we got
our gear we started to row for the yes
sell After rowing for "a short distance
we were in the midst of a school OF
man-eating sharks that had scented
the blood OF their MANNED relative.
My partner was rowing pair OF new
oars and they attracted the sharks.
They made SNAP after snap at the
blades, aud as our dory was deep load.
ed with fish they appeared to think we
would be AN easy Trey.
SO hard did they press us that the
new oars had to be taken in and fish
thrown overheard TO distract their at.
tention.
We were within quarter-mil OF
the vessel. and had succeeded In shak.
Ing on all but one OF them. He was
smart cuss, and would purr up along
side the dory like u cat and never lef,
us until we reached our vessel and were
safe aboard.