Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-05-14
From the New York Ledger
IN A SHARKS MOUTH

ESfa globe principally IN the tropics,
where he reaches his greatest size. His
SsaniIv has a goodly number of mem
bers- The greatest is known as the
Nso&skIng shark" and he attains a
assGgth of forty feet and upwards, but is
mot by any means the most ferocious OF
Gfse family. The next to him in size,
sand 5y far the most DANCE rous, is the
white shark" which is found in the
ETaptcs all around the world, but most
Enas2eEously in the West Indies, on the
.sasse of Africa, and in the Malay Archi-
EReSaso- A great many stories have
tffeea told about the white shark or
<maa- eater" as he is often called, and
4Ee may be set down as one Of the crea-
vsrres most dreaded and hated by those
Ets9 go down to the sea in slips.
Sailors are the sworn enemies of the
4znaa-eating shark, and never fail to kill
nsIaR whenever they have the opportuni-
GT~ He follows ships for the sake Of
WHAT is thrown overheard; the sailors
AEGge superstitious idea that when he
@Sees SO his presence foretells death on
e3aard, and therefore they get rid of him
2Rs soon as possible. AS he is voracious,
Axe Is caught with hook with compare
Give ease, and if the line is sufficiently
SFeGoRg he can be hoisted on board as
saaoa as hooked. More commonly a
aUpe is secured around his body for
ak0iseing purposes, and as he comes up
G9 the vessels side his tail is severed
sxxta an axe to prevent his doing dam
age with it. Then he is swung in on the
deck aud killed, or if the sailors are In a
sRortive mood, they free him again, and
ssuIoy his contortions in the water, in his
attempts to swim without tail. The
sskaFk is pitiless towards them when
THEY are within his reach, and
tRey reciprocate by showing no pity or
mercy for the shark.
The writer was once on board O ship
S6aI was becalmed at sea, and surround
ed by dozen or more sharks. One was
caught and killed in the manner just
described; a second was allowed to go
aEseer his tail had been severed; and a
St3ird was marked for a still more pain
ESxf fate.
& large brick was heated to red heat
Ra the galley fire, and then piece of as
&aestos packing was Wrapped around it
sas quickly as possible. The brick with
IT'S covering was incased in piece OF
iTpors. that was tossed overheard, along
with several other morsels which the
SHARKS were ready to devour, and it
had no sooner touched the water than
&c vas swallowed. 1t took a few min
gxbes for the heat to come through its
sy8Vering of asbestos and pork, and dur
Efsg these few minutes the shark swan
sxsaoHg his companions and attracted no
special attention. But very soon his
xs7ozements showed the pain lie was
VfseziHe; he dared violently about, sprang
e<1E Of the water, dove, rose again, and
WIS evidently suffering intensely. This
Aso06nued for perhaps half an hour,
a4ERd ended with the creature turning on
AfIs back and dying in the most horrible
~1oRtottions. The other sharks showed
s9ssesir tender feelings by attacking him
Es8esore he was fairly dead; they had no
Tata ufpunctions about eating him, or at
@szy rate displayed none, for he was de-
waured before our eyes, to the great de-
Eight Of the sailors.
The mouth of the shark is situated or
the lower side OF the head, in such q
position that it Is necessary TOR him to
rUhiri over on his back to seize anything
TINS necessity of turning over is t4ken
advantage of by pearl divers and others
cxsaa have occasion to go into he water
where sharks abound, as it gives skill.
dat swimmer chance to get out of bis
ssa&se- Pearl divers in the waters o
Ceylon and the Persian Gulf often kill
fise shark by means Of the large knife
Vxszich they always carry, to aid them
ia deeaching the pearl oysters from the
Cotton. They dive beneath him, and
sBsqnge tie kn1ve into his body. and
Vraenever he turns to seize them, they
dart TO one side, and make ready fol
another blow. Of course this can only
Gse done by an expert swimmer, vino il
mot encountered with clothing of any
sect These divers work without any
garments, and, as they are accustomed
re the water from their infancy, they
are almost as quick as fishes in theil
movements.
One of their methods of fighting the
azazaxk is to take stout stick, about two
Sect long, in addition to the knife
laasfe and stick are in belt around the
aaaaa's waist, and, thus equipped, be
,ssgfms confidently toward his adversary
Gsse shark turns on his back to seize the
szeaapeing prey; qnick as fash the man
fz9Iaces the stick upright between the
.Y&ws of the monster, and as the ends
axre pointed, they pierce both the upper
and lower jaw when the shark attempts
ea close upon the obstacle. He canno,