The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-09-03
BULL DOG OF THE SEAS.
Anecdotes which Prove the Sharks
Right tot Q title.
New York Mail and Express

|
The inhabitants of the sea have their
combats as well as those on land. and
seafarers often witness desperate strug-
giles between large fish. The writer once
saw struggle between a man-eatcr
shark and huge loggerhead turtle. The
shark had stolen quietly upon the tur-
| tie when 1t was asleep, floating on the
| surface. and with one bite had undoubt-
edlv severed fiipper, literally tearing
1t into shreds. The turtle turned. and
after the manner of it's kind. breathed
heavily and esSayer to dive, but the
shark held 1t at the surface, tearing at
the flesh.
Suddenly the turtle disappeared. It
evidently tore away from the shark but
the ferocious brute-the bulldog of the
seas--followed closely, and soon had
caught it again. the two apparently roll
ing over and over in the water. When
the boat was pulled alongside the COM
batants 1t was evident that the shark
had caught a tartar. The man-eater
had seized the turtle, which was OF the
largest size. by the other f,ippcr. aud
The turtle had npned its enemy by the
side fin. and n ferocious struggle ensued
have known one of these turtles 10
hold on to an oar all day. hence expected
| that the battle would be IL long one
The shark stolidly held fast to his prey,
| and. evidently not able TO bite the Nip.
Der. vainly attempted to carry the biz
1t would make desperate effort and
plunge down. exposing it's huge gray
BODY for moment. reaching three or
| four feet. when the turtle would bring
1t to the surface again, where the two
would toss about. beating the water int
| foam.
Finally the shark tore Itself away and
the turtle disappeared We saw il come
up long distance away and a violent
splashing told that its enemy or another
of its kind had continued the attack.
When we reached il again the pursuer
had disappeared and the turtle lay on
the surface.
| We put Il peg into it's shell and lowed
1t in. finding its four fippers cut evenly
awaf SO that the poor creature was per-
fectly helpless.
| In this locality the sharks came into
that water ut night TO feed, In all pro-
liability. upon crawfish, sea cucumbers
and other dainties and at such times
they waged war upon the big rays that
also affected the shallow lagoons. On
sun nights, when the wind had entirely
gone down. sudden and violent rush
of water would be heard, then q re-
sounding crash. followed by fiuttering
along the surface. as though some great
bird was beating the water with its
wings
The roar of sounds meant conflict
between shark and the great ray or
dew! fish, that has n spread of fifteen
or eighteen fest. The ray Is black. with
the curious claspers at its head, and long,
projecting side fins, which move up and
down like wings. These the shark at
tack, and fins have been seen with enor-
nous pieces torn out while the giant
tsh often succumbs to the onslaught of
the man-eater
Sharks themselves occasiolly engage
IN vigorous and sangulnary encounters
while turtles, especially the big bull
loSGerheads, wage warfare against their
kind.
Among the fishes the swordfsh is UNI
doubtedly the most pugnacious, remark
able duels occurring between those
swordsmen of the sea. In enc obsery-
cd by an acquaintance of the writer.
the fish were first noticed leaping into
the air. undoubtedly the result of a
false aim. or one had avoided the lunge
appeared to swim around In circles and
suddenly charged The shock must
have been terrific. as one of the fishes
was almost thrown out of the water,
and afterwards the blow was found to
have been delivered Just below the eve
and to have glanced off, The thrust un-
doubtedly demoralizcd the swordsman,
ms 1t was seen TO swim away; then came
on again, and in few moments the fish
was struggling at the surface and n
short time after II was picked up dead,
having wound upon the head-a glanc-
ing shot, while two other stabs were
made by the sword of its opponent,
which had gone through II as easily
as through paper.
OF all the combats CT the sea, those
between rival whales are most awe-in-
spring, and the spectacle OF these mon
islers or the deep era hing into each
other is one to be remembered That
Iterrfic battles are waged between whal ;,
and the swordfish there is little doubt,
and 1t Is a prevalent belief among whal-
ers and followers of the SEA that the
swivel-tail shark is also a party to these
contests. but this is denied, as a rule, by
naturalists. The story Is that the sword
hsh and long-tailed shark have an enc
nifty OF long standing against the whale.
and that they attack II together the
swordfish piercing 1t from below. and as
the whale leaps from the water the
sharks follow 1t, belaboring the big ce-
tacean with the powerful blows of the
knife-lke tail. This tale Is repeatedly
told, but the shark part of 1t is received
by many with reservation.
That there is often fight to the death
between whales and swordfish there is
no doubt. The writer has heard of one
instance in which, despite the whales
PUSHES and blows at the agile enemy
with its tail. the swordfish lunged irs
keen weapon into II time and again, un-
til finally the whale was killed and wa
blown ashore, where 1t constituted an al
traction that brought people from the
country for miles around The sword.
fish was seen by close observers dart
ing at 1t and leaping out of the water.
and in the body of the huge animal we, e
scores OF gashes made by the long, slen-
der blade OF the swordfisb of the sea