Sierra County advocate., 1897-02-12
Plenty OF SHARKS.
The toutheast Coast of Florida Infested
his Year.


] his Year.
That part OF the Atlantic which beats
upon the southeast coast Of Florida Is
infested with shark. IT Is probably the
"enarkicst" water at this season IN the
world. Folks who have dweli for years
N the jgngles of soft palmetto aud on
fhe safOnBaha Of saw grass that stretch
inland from the shell-strewn beach, IN
commenting on the more than plenti.
tude ~ shnrAs, aay; ~ never seen the
like 0forc."
The blue swells that roll landward
and pound themselves into heecy,
frcnzied surf TEEN with this cruel fish.
The white shark, the baskinp shark
the hammerheaded shark and other
members of the elasmo branchiatc
family are there.
From Jupiter inlet 10 TIillsboro' in
let they may be seen outside the break
era, in The breakers and inside the
breakers. This season they are SO nu-
uieroua and vicious that the strongest
swimmers and the stoutest-heartcd gen
dogs along that part OF the coast viii
not venture into the sea further than
knec-deep water. Even whore this pre-.
caution has been taken casualties have
been reported. 1t was only few days
ago that the son of Capt. ColIinp, OF the
Jupiter life-snyinR station, lost foot
by shark bite while standing in the surf
lie would probably have been killed had
not compnnion plunged bowie knife
into the fish
The tpufI fr1.., sla ,.x.4a r.
coeoanut Grove and other settlements
Of the south end OF the peninsula used
TO be carried from Palm Beach by a
lone carrier, who followed the beach
and crossed the inlets in small boats
This was before the opening of the
East Coast railroad IL waa lust about
enc year ago that this lone carrier left
Palm Beach on his last trip. A few days
later the hghtkeeper at HIlsboro' inlet
found the curriers' small boat bottom
upward on the beach. The man was
never after heard from. There had been
no foul weather, and the settlers re-
fusd 10 believe that the cnrrier had
either abscondcd or had been killed
by bandits. The Runwale Of the small
boat showed that IL had been gnnwcd
by strong, sharp teeth A broken oar
was later picked up on he sound. The
lightkeeper reported that thousands Of
sharks were In the inlet and that they
were uncommonly bold and excited.
The taste o. human tlood maddens
these fish The old settlers feel that
they know about how the mail carrier
met death,
This season vast schools Of bhiefish.
suappers ana saltwater mullets have
appeared Off the coast nf Florida, and
these have attracted untold thousands
Of shark from the warm water of the
gulf stream, which at that part OF the
coast flows northward about four miles /
from shore, One may etand on the |
beach and throw shells at the monsters
RS they pursue their prey. Rifle balls
seem 10 have little effect ON a shark. !
Fat pork, a big hook, strong line ana
stout arm is the best way TO li.l one
Several times this fan sharks have |
been seen in the Biscayne canal, which |
was recently cut through from Lake |
Worth TO Bscayne bay. But the sharl, |
fiuds no comfort there. II Is the home
uf the good old alligator, and he resists |
intrusion. Every sclf-respeeting gator
VIII tackle shark on sight.--Washing- !
ton Star.