Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-13

this timei Then in five minutes there would
be almest a fight forward as to how the
shark was to be divided, where he was to be
exhibited, how many people wo1ld come to
see him, ETC., until I would have to 60 to
still the disturbance. and suggest that the
settlement of all these questions had better
be left until we had caught the shark; this
would instantly restore good nature.
On arrival at the grounds the casks and
lines would be thrown overheard a hundred
Yards apart. Then We would. crnise around
and await developments 1t we were
fortunate one of the barrels would presently
begin to bob around at great rate; some
times disappearing under the water and re-
appearing at distance, the barrel being too
buoyant Tor the shark to keep it under.
Chasing the Man Eaters
Then the chase! Backward and forward,
in circles and winding lines, we would pur-
sue the elusive cask until success crowned
our efforts ana we could drag our fish along
side. Sometimes little, sometimes big, but
any shark was always welcome on deck.
Evenings we fshed for them off the Gov
eminent wharf; but then the method was
different. An inch line, over 800 feet long,
the same kind of hook and chain as we used
on the Yacht and baited in the same manner;
but now we tied one end of the rope around
the flagstaff, and throwing the well-baited
hook few yards away into the middle of
patch OF moonlit sand in four or FIVE feet of
water, we would coil the remainder of the
line so that it could run freely, and then
make ourselves comfortable. We never
waited long. That was q very favorite
place with the sharks, and we always had
good sport.
Soon q dark object would glide silently as
q shadow across the meonlit spot OF sand;
then it would check its noiseless movement,
then, after q moments hesitation, approach
the bait OF course We all sat still as
statues Slowly the thing would move of,
and the rasping of the rope over the string
piece of the wharf would tell MS that it had
the hook in its NAV; then-not till then
we would jump for the rope and, grasping
it, run few steps in the other direction.
No Holding to the Rope.
say 'tfew steps," for genernlly the
rope would be torn out of our hands as the
shark teIt the hook and threw himself out
of water in an effort to get rid OF it. For a
few MON ents the water would be cut into
foam as the taut line would be drawn,
through it. As soon as We
thought the shark was tired we would take
hold of the line and try to draw him up to
the little beach alongside Of the wharf.
lu6u Lie pIOCSSetOA COhaiHSiiCCu. L liSb w
would pull the shark up close to the shore
and think we had him. But just as often
he would haul us to the waters edge and we
had to let go in hurry to avoid a dueking.
Sooner or later, however, we would get him
to the shallow water. Then he would splash
and fight In few minutes We wonld get
him up on the sand. Then . shot through
the backbone where the head joins the body
would settle him. The largest shark we
caught was Is feet long-pfenty big enough
to have on the end of . line assure you.
Revenge for q sailors Death.
One day we were sailing among the 'tout
islands, {" when we noticed small sponging
sloop in distress. We ran down to her and
found that one of her crew had fallen over
board, and that as he took hold Of the gun
vale to pull himself aboard shark had
made dash at him and bitten one of his
legs clean of; the man had died in few
minutes Next day that shark was on ex-
hibition, having been caught by the COM
rades of the dead sailor; it measured over 16
feet in length.
None Of the white people would 60 in
swimming. unless in protected places. But
the negroes daily followed their avocations
Of sponging and gathering sea curiosities-