The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-09-28

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Doubtless there are man eaters
among Che shark family. Well an-
thenticnted stories reach us from the
south sesS of the Eerce and ravenoua
habits of the spotted. or tiger. shark,
but he never or seldom visits this
latitude,
The shark we know and see here
is what il 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 tho habits of the animal and
has for many years been interested
in the question now under oonsi4er-
-ation.. 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 shall only speak from expert
enoe, 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 mp in our wa
ters (most Charleston boys spend a
large portion of their time in or ON
the water) that the shark ia general
ly timid fish. When seen among
or near a party of bathers, shouting
or clapping the hands, together with
a splashing, will usually result IN
his gliding gracefully away. Ye6
on the other hand, it is n common
occurrence for q shark to follow q
fish on a line and take it of and
even to take fish from a cord at
tached to a person.
Two summers since the writer OBJ
served a very large shark almost ev-
cry day skirting the beach on Sulh-
vans island, at particular place, nc
or about low tide. One morning he
saw the shark slip mp to an angler.
who was waist deep in the water.
and take off q 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
caught.
It Is somewhat trying TO the
nerves to find oneself in such close
proximity to a sea monster in his
native element, but i became per-
shaded that his taking the fish and
leaving unheeded 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, and
when in water where we could bare
ly touch bottom we were confronted
by what at first appeared to be q
sunken log. Gradually this log rose
to the surface, until there appeared
two great fins and the long, dark
ridge of n sharks back. He seemed
to contemplate US for a few seconds
1t was impossible to wade in water
of that depth, and we feared that
should we turn and swim for the
shore he would have an Opportunity
TO take off a leg or two, as we ex-
tended them toward him. So we
remained standing and shouting and
splashed at him. To our surprise
and alarm, he swan slowly and di-
rectly toward us and passed between
my friend and myself, so near that
we could feel the motion caused in
the water by his tail. When about
10 feet away, he again stopped and
seemed to be Watching us with close
attention. By this time we were in
motion and lost no time in gaining
the beach.
On another occasion ] have known a
shark to follow a small boat through
the surf and almost to the sand,
much to the terror of a youngster
whose duty it was to jump into the
surf to land the boat, but there were
fish in that boat, and doubtless his
attention was attracted by scent OF
them. At any rate, he made no at.
tempt to attack the young man in
the surf.
These and like observations have
led mo to believe that the shark will
not attack a living man.-Charles-