The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-10-07
SHARKS IN THE HARsoR.
A Charleston Eesident Talks EntertAIn-
inEly About Them.

OO0beAOSS thCA0 AIc luhn edNcTS
among the shark family. Well au-
thenticated stories reach us from the
south secs of the fierce and ravenous
habits of the spotted, or tiger, shark,
but he never or seldom visits this
latitude.
The shark we know and see here
is what is vulgarly called the sand
shark, or shovel nose shark. He
feeds ON smaller fish and is said to
affect the smell of watermelon. The
writer has had opportunity for OBJ
serving the habits of the animal and
has for many years been interested
in the question now under consider
alton. will not attempt to discuss
the subject from a scientific point of
view. The formidable array of teeth
with which the shark is provided,
together with his great muscular
power, would suggest that nature
intended him to be fierce and cruel.
But j shall only speak from expert
ence, state such facts as have come
under my observation and leave the
reader to reach his own conclusion.
/ think it will be admitted by all
boys who have grown up in our wa
ters (mOst Charleston boys spend
large portion Of their time in or on
the water) that the shark is general
4 ly timid fish. When seen among
or near a party of bathers, shouting
or clapping the hands, together with
\ q splashing, will usually result in
/ his gliding gracefully away. Yet,
! on the other hand, it is a common
I occurrence for a shark to follow a
fish on a line and take 1t off and
even 70 take fish from a cord at
tached to a person.
Two summers since the writer OBJ
served very large shark almost ev-
I cry day skirting the beach on Sulli-
vans island, at particular place, at
or about low tide. One morning he
saw the shark slip up to an angler,
who was waist deep III the water,
and take of a string of sheepshead
which was tied TO his waist. And
he saw this same shark-at least he
believed him to be the same-on
several occasions at about the same
place swim up to men and boys who
were fishing, doubtless for the same
purpose of getting his dinner ready
r caught.
1t is somewhat trying to the
nerves to find oneself in such close
proximity to a sea monster in his
native element, but l became per.
} suaded that his taking the fish and
leaving UNDECIDED a fat pair of calves
was evidence that he did not banker
after human flesh.
On July 4, some seven or eight
years ago, a friend and myself were
bathing about midday. We went
beyond the breakers for a swim, anC
when in water where we could bare
ly touch bottom we were confronted
by what at first appeared to be I
sunken log. Gradually this log rosi
to the surface, until there appeared
two great fins and the long, darl
ridge of a sharks back. He scenes
to contemplate us for a few seconds
1t was impossible to wade in waite
of that depth, and we feared tina
should we turn and swim for tn
shore he would have an opportunit.
n to take of a leg or two, as we ez
tended them toward him. So W
remained standing and shouting an
splashed at him. To our surpris
and alarm, he swan slowly and d
rectly toward us and passed betwee
my friend and myself, so near tha
we could feel the motion caused j
the water by his tail. When abou
10 feet away, he again stopped an
seemed to be watching Us with clos
attention. By this time we were
motion and lost no time in gainin
the beach.
On another occasion have known
shark to follow a small boat throug
j. the surf and almost to the san'
= much to the terror of a youngstC
= whose duty it was TO jump into II
surf to land the boat, but there wei
fish in that boat, and doubtless b
attention was attracted by scent
them. At any rate, he made no a
, tempt to attack the young man
the surf.
These and like observations ha'
led me to believe that the shark vi
In not attack a living man.-Charle
Jul ton News and Courier.