The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-11-19

Record.
When a shark is mentioned it generally
causes a gruesome feeling of terror, as
the popular fancy of the average lands
man pictures the shark exclusively as a
man-eater, whose daily fare consists of
drowned sailors, with an occasional
change to careless bather, while, in
fact, by far the largest proportion of
sharks found on the South Atlantic coast
Of the United States are entirely too
small to be dangerous, and their attack
ing and devOuring a human being Is an al
most physical impossibility.
The commercial value Of the pl oducts
from shark is much greater than the
majority of fishes caught, as every part
OF the shark can be utilized and sold to
great advantage. Hundreds of vessels
and crews could find highly remunera-
| tive employment In shark fishing along
the coast of Georgia, Florida and South
Carolina during the summer months; es-
| peclally vessels employed in the oyster
! trade during the winter months would
find this lucrative employment during
| the dull season, and are well fitted for the
purpose.
The skin of the shark is not covered by
| scales, but has the appearance of coarse
emery paper When properly tanned and
currled 1t is one of the very best of fancy
feathers, and is known as fish chagrine.
Besides the great beauty and extreme
hneness of the grain, shark leather is
very strong, supple and lasting Shark
skins, properly sailed or sun-dried, will
readily sell at from Sl2 to $50 per dozen.
and can be sold in unlimited quantities.
The Unframed shark skin is also used
for polishing steel and other hard metals.
and the polish thus obtained cannot be
surpassed or even equalled by other
means.
The liver of the shark is one mass of
oil, and ten to twenty gallons of an excel
lent train oil are often obtained from a
single set. The oil is rendered in open
cast-iron kettles, and the cracklings,
which separate easily, have a commercial
value for soap making or fertilizers.
The flesh or meat is beautifully white
and of even grain. it is edible and per
fectly wholesome, and, as it is free from
hsh oil, its taste is equal to Goldfish or hal
lout; the shark name alone is the OBJ
stacle to it bringing high prices. 1t can
be salted. sun-dried or smoked and is A
good keeper in all climates. If placed ON
the market incognito it would no doubt
sell quickly and readily on account of its
cheapness, and the poorer classes of the
people would obtain a reasonable and
healthy food.
The fms, sailed and sun-dried, are
AH''AhO0 W NAAO OLlAlGSb DIS great deli
cacy, and wherever Cinnamon can he
found, dry-salted shark will readily
and quickly bring 10 cents per pound.
Inc stomach, when neatly washed ont
scraped and sun-dried, commands good
prices, and is used as a substitute for
"Hausenblase' in making jellies, fine
glue etc.
The shark has triple row of formida-
Die teeth which are pure ivory and ex-
qulsltely white. Some of the prettiest
and best are mounted in gold setting for
JeWelry, and the inferior teeth are still
worth 81 or 81 per pound for the manu-
tacture of ivory black, the best and most
expensive black paint. All offaI and
trimmings from the shark are worth $40
to Sl2 per ton for fertilizing purposes.
The sharks caught on the southern
coast will vary from seven to twelve feet
III length and weigh $50 pounds to 500
pounds. The quickest and easiest wav tn
hsh for them is with hook and line at,
tached to an anchored buoy. The booi,
employed IS made from sz-incb steel and
Is three or four inches across the bend
The shank is ten or twelve inches lonc,
ana is fastened by swivel to five or eiS
feet OF strong chain. An empty vvbiel11,
or Kerosene barrel will answer we'll for
buoy, and will hold the largest sbarl[
The anchor can consist of some chaan
cast iron, such as old CRATE bars SharP
meat hsh or refuse meat of any kind will
answer for bait " III
The shark when caught will first try n
cut the rope holding him, but will oniyy bo
able to reach the chain; then he viii trv
70 SPIN round and round in his vain ef-
IorJS TO get free, but the swivel will ,,o1
der such efforts useless: then tho sbo,,i-
viii slacken up on the line and suddepiS1
dart away, but the only effect this at
tempt will have will be to sink the bno,,
temporarily. as it only offers vieldiDgg, |
resistance. When the vessel is brougb7
alongside the buoy, the line is hauled in
ana ana fastened to a block and tackle. When |
SiiS staLh mas been drawn alongside it is
dispatched by few blows on the hal |
while 1t is still in the water. 1t is g -aI,,
hsh, and will fight to the last, givino