New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-05
IN THE ANIMAL WORLD.
A TRUE SHARK STORY.
From The Spectator.

How very hard it is to provide for young.
fast growing family nowadays" said the mother
shark. turning, for the hundredth time that
morning upon her broad side in order to get a
hettrr view of what might be stirring above.
For nearly a week she had been fasting-in fact.
ever since she came in hurredly at the close of
great feast upon the stripped carcass OF a re-
cent whale. There. by dint OF the energy of her
massive shoulders. her fourteen feet of length
and fvefold rows of triangular teeth. she had
managed to secure a respectable proportion OF
the spoil for the replenshing Of her own huge
nav. as well AZ for the Upkecp of the fourteen
sharklngs that were now rcstlcssly darling in
ard out Of their coscy cave II the far end OF her
capaciuus throat.
Within the immediate range If her glance a
vast black shadow Obscurcd wide. irrcSuarly
shared area Of the blazing sunshine. II was
s. calm That the shadow seemed stationary. In
the direction Of this cool penumlra her gaze
fingered earnestly. For hereditary instinct as
Wei as long experience gave her the knoH ledge
that from thu ,stance Of such shadows came
food Dropping down. varied and toothsom". act
ualiy alive upon rare occasions. Somewhat i'm
patiently she wondered at the long time that her
little blue and gold attendant had been gone.
lie was 81 seldom absent from his plac" ne
tween h"r eyes fcr Il whole minute that she got
quite uneasy. But while she hdgcted irctiuiiy.
with many tWi;chinGS of her flexible gan top
sail" back came the pilot-hsh in a tearing hurry.
Now. then. partner. move along. do. Th"rcs a
lump Of fat pork almost as big as your mead
hanging over that ships stern. don quite uh
i'rStInt why ~ utrSN SiIh. put u - t'''i.
nihblcd just a crumb and YOU can be sure TINS
time that il j. ~ bagful of cndrrS IKE 'iia'
nasty mouthfni that gave YOU the chcsi acne 80
bad this morning III" latter part 81 inns en-
crectic rxordium was lost upon mother shark
j., ing drowned IN The wash set mp by h"r great
tail fin. which going in grand style start
ing her of at such rair that two or 'hrc' SiidE
g!prs of the family had Il skip lii" shiimpS !"
get indoors before they were lcft be NINA anu 'S''
Straight as IN ,rrlw 10 the mark went the tiny
guide Keeping just in front Of his mug ir''nu
rnut. Together they swept int" me Shhi'"
Nhcrc sure enough. a mass of meat huhs JuSl
,,.lnv. the sca eurfar. 'hnugh gently lNt"d Al
most out Of water every now ana thti'- On ="
look mamma there's a big fish IL ne EnihE 10
eat up that pretty little one. do yon 'hIhh
oh no my little man. struck IN th' i''''.
I'm, yc,, watch him nov A. h. spoke the great
gray body took curve iatrra'ly. = d"Iz''hE S'"'
Of white appeared. ana th't' n'"'''' -"
speaker was creSc"ntf zap III N'' =.
liy,d undersidr fiinged with innufncTdhlr p'''''
Ike. chcyaux de frisc and as big AZ the gap {"
4 coal sack Around 1t tn" small ph"' cH'','
cxci,cdly a, top speed Slowly II rps" hch'"'h
the bait which the mate as g'ht', say "''
there was a gulp. and thr Liz jnin' dis,rirm,'"
Th,rc was a flash splash and an eddy Inrh
the rope attached to The shark nook conc, az, ~
that pork grUan'i over TN IA" IL u '''' 80"
strain ~, -,
.I,v ,f, the watch" roarcd the Tatr. ana
ou,,d The ,ramtlinr Of many feet n babel 81 a.
rrct.ons and tremendous turnui' "lo"SH.'
through the writings ot the chPtNc '''"'
where by TN" AID OF STOUT "h'' "''' No. ~
wax huistcd out Of wafer
..hon't TAX. him aboard" cried tn" captain.
Maxi. such an Internal mess II you ~ Jus
snritsl. ward him N let him &" AGAIN :" a
,,;rcn nf srautiing was got from tn" carp'n,"r
roin,ed at both ends about i"nf i''' ,'". 49,,
,t, d,ove through her jaws from side 10 S'"'
Another wedge shaped piece WAS pi"Ir" no."
,nol,y down through her broad sn"ut. thr upper
end non,ing forward Then they cut on tn" ",n u,
ncctoral fms letting the qui'rring c"''asH Ia,
int m. sea again b. IN" simple "Np' iirh' 81
chonninp the hook out What a""'"'""''o
or,,,i,, r,,,,to,rd a gentle faced man among
m. crnvding passengers as H. turned away
.,.k at heart hut tire bus'lng s'afh'h i""h''
pityingly AT him. WONDERING o""",''S, a..
III, - snor,.ng instincts Thus disabled. the
,,,tori,i monster plunged birdy in uncertain
directions unable To steer herself uhn''"'i'S ~"
r,,,i. c,,.ss.s II her faithful little satellite.
.t h,d ,Irns, exhausted himself by leapihg up
a, her a. she hung struggling against '"' -
ent's side Neither did she notice inc p"I"''"E'
v,,vcriur movements OF her WONDERING "'","
G, he disappcarcd from the view "f the iauHh
mo ha,,uy crowd on deck. Hut whenever way
sbc ,,shad she always fetched up 10 the s"ri'''
,,.,,,,,iv L.c,usc 81 the vanc In her head Thn'
Tor , DAY and night she io'ieht a'"'cHS'' ~"
an the forces Of amazing vitality pcnt up III h'r
n,,,.. h,dv against thcs, tOrturing dsahirin"htS.
mill ,ncroifuIy shr fell I'm with coupe Oh
mems ,nnrcucrs Seeming fresh blood they
Md. for her sirdphtWay. Like MAJ thineS 'h'S
f.u unon her Long ard hard they stf"Nc. tear
,p, tbcir way through the tough framework I'M
- ,ssi.,,ncc came from all quarters. ana mot
,,,. multitude 81 various hungry ones cleaned
49,, every shred Of the welcome banquet. leaving
o,,,,, zinc deserted pilot To- seek another partner