The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-09-03
SHARKS ARE GETTING VICIOUS.
So Much So, in Fact, that Dogs will be Used
as Bait.


Baltimore, Nd, Sept. "A number o.
| the residents of Curtis bay, including
| workmen at the sugar refinery and the
| old fishermen who have been supplying
| the Baltimore markets with fish from
| that part Of the Patapsco river fol
years, are trying TO get rid of the
sharks which have inhabited the waters
near the refinery for month or so.
So far three sharks have been seen
| there. Two of these are old ones and
measure about eight and ten feet re-
spectively in length. The third measu-
ures four feet.
Those who have seen the sharks say
they must have followed some large
vessel up the river. and finding that
fish was plentiful about Curtis bay stop
ped there. and have since been living at
the expense of the fishermen.
Mr.. Godfrey Engle, chief engineer at
the sugar refinery, has a large steel
hook, measuring eighteen inches, at
tached to a rope half an inch in dame
ter, tied securely to the pier for several
days. but has not succeeded in catch
ing the sharks. On the hook he puts
five pounds of fresh pork every day.
but the sharks will not go near il.
A new idea has struck some of the
using for bait several of the good-for-
nothing dogs that have been making
so much noise there. The plan is TO
tie big hook TO one of them, and
when the shark makes his appearance
10 let the dog swim out in the water.
If the shark swallows the dog they ex-
pect to pull the finny monster in.
Mr.. William LOWRY, who has been
fishing in the waters of the Patapsco
nearly all his life, says the fishermen
have been complaining of the scarcity
Of fish ever since the sharks made their
appearance in Curtis bay. He says
there is great quantity OF fish under
the pier of the sugar refinery which
are so scared by the sharks that they
remain under the pier for safety. Those
which venture out are captured by their
dreaded enemies, and as a result do
not get as far as the seines.
The sharks also visit the seines. and
not content with eating all the fish. tear
the seines 10 pieces. Said Mr.. Lowry.
I'VE pulled up a seine Wednesday
which was full Of pieces Of fish. This
proves that the sharks had visited the
seine and enjoyed a good meal
Mr.. Lowry said IL is nearly time for
the porpoises TO come up the river.
When they arrive the sharks will then
have to seek the waters of the ocean
or be killed by them. Mr.. Lowry says
the sharks can detect the presence Of
porpoises a mile or So distant.
While Mr.. Jacob Rogers, one OF the
night watchmen az the refinery, was
sitting on the pier Wednesday the larg-
est OF the sharks came right I'D TO the
pier under his feet \ large fishing
gig Weighing eight pounds was on the
pier, and he picked il up and struck
the shark on the Ratchet fin. He said
IL sounded like striking a bass drum
When struck the shark made a ire
squirt and dashed away.
The sharks in the river are known
as the dog sharks and have their mouth |
under their throat They are COM !
PEELED 10 turn over before they can
bite anything They play around 4
the pier at the refinery at night and 1
make great sport for the watchmen /
and workmen- These sharks have been /
visiting different portions OF the Pata- /
osco river for a month and have been 4
seen by numerous persons along the 1
soas, from Curtis bay 20 the Long .
Bridge and Fort McHenry.
Henry Schaltach. q deck hand on the 1
ug Easily. Captain Herbert Mullen. |
vas brought 20 Baltimore last night on /
he tug suffering from the bite OF /
shark On Thursday the Easily start
d 20 take in tow the schooner e. 2.
Seale outside of Cape Henry bound Tor
Hampton Roads While passing the
iawser Schslt7ch fell overheard A.
most instantly he was attacked By a
hsrk. and before the ferocious crea-
ure could be scared away il had bitten
II three OF Schaltach's toes. Schaltach !
vas gotten on board the vessel, where