The morning times., 1896-07-12
& OCEAN SSS
3 r1ONSTERS
ss@ FIGHT
FIGHT

The inhabitants OF the sea have their
| combats as well as those upon land, and
seafarers often witness desperate strug.
| giles between large fishes. The writer once
| saw battle between Il nan-eater shark
and huge loggerhead turtle. The shark
| had stolen quietly upon the turtle when
| it was asleep floating upon the surface,
and with one bite had undoubtedly severed
flipper, literally tearing it in threads.
The turtle turned, and, after the manner of
its kind, breathed heavily then essayed 10
dive; but the shark held 1t at the sur
face, tearing at the flesh.
Suddenly the turtle disappeared. It
evidently tore away from the shark and
bounded Off, but that ferocious brute. the
bulldog of the sea, followed closely and
soon had caught it gain. the two appar-
entity rolling over and over in the water.
When the boat had pulled alongside the
combatants it was evident that the shark
had caught Il tartar. The man-cater mad
seized the turtle, which was or the larg-
est size, by the other flipper, and the
turtle had nipped his enemy 10y ITS side
fin, and a ieroCious struggle eHsued.
/ have known one OF these turtles to
hold ON TO an oar all day, hence expected
that the battle would be long one. The
shark stolidly held fast to his prey and
evidently not able to bite tie Upper vainly
attempted TO carry the big animal below
the surface. Occasionally it would make q
desperate effort and plunge down, ex-
posing its huge grey body for a moment,
reaching three or four feet VIXEN the turtle
would bnpg il to the surface again, where
the two would toss about, beating the
water into foam.
In this locality the sharks came into that
water at night TO feed, III all probability,
upon the era wfish, sea cucumbers and other
dainties, and at such times trey waged
war upon the big rays that also affected
the shallow lagoons. On still nights,
when the wind had entirely gone down,
sudden and violent rush Of water would
be heard, then ii resouDding crash, fol-
lowed by fluttering along the surface,
as though scme great bird was beating
the water with Its wings.
The roar of sounds meant a conflict be-
tween a shark and the great ray. or devil
fish, that has spread Of fifteen or
eighteen feet. The rag is black, with
the curious claspers at its head and long
projecting side fins, which move up and
down like wings. These the sharks at
tack, and fins have been seen with cnor-
nous pieces torn out, while the giant fish
often succumbs to the onslaught of the
Sharks themselves occasionally engage
in vigorous and sanguinary encounters,
while turtles, especially the lig bull log
wage warfare against their kind.
Among the fishes the Swo rd- fish is IN
the most pusnacious, remark
able duels occurring between these swords
men of the sea. In one observed by an
OF the writer, the fish were
first noticed leaping into the air, un-
loubtedly the result OF a false aim, or
one had avoided the lunge and shot uot
Of the water. They then appcaredto swim
around in circles and suddenly charged
The shock must have been tcr-Tic as one
OF the fishes was almost til - out Of
he water, and afterwards the nlov was
found TO have been delivered Just below
he eye and to have glancedoff. The thrust
demoraliZcd the swordsman.
as it was seen to swim away; then came
L terrific rush along the surface as the
enemy came on again, and in a few mo-
nents the fish was struggling at the sur
face and a short time after was picked up
feGi, having a wound upon the head-a
glancing shot, while two other stabs were
made by the sword of its opponent. which
lad gone through it as easily as through
paper.