The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-18
A PLEASED SHARK.
Back from Winter Quarters in a Tank to
the Aquarium's Great Central Pool.


The larger Of the two sharks that were taken
from the great central pool OF the Aquarium
last fall and placed in one of the wall tanks
there was. to its evident comfort. returned to
the waters of the pool last week; the smaller
shark is likely to follow it soon. These are the
first sharks that have ever passed through
the winter at the Aquarium. Sharks IN
these waters go South in the fall and come
back in the spring; the water herrabouts in
winter is too cold for them. Sharks have been
exhibited at the Aquarium every season, but
Us the fall advanced and the water began to get
colder the sharks would begin to drop Off, .
though in favorable winters when the water
grew colder slowly ono or two might hang on
late. and in one season single shark was kept
until Feb. 10.
In the tank to which these sharks were
transferred they had the benefit OF warmed
salt water from the supply provided for the
tropical fishes, which could not be kept alive
here without it: in this tank the sharks could
be kept in water at a temperature comfortable
to them and such as they would seek in nature.
The tank in which the sharks were placed is a
double tank. two tanks connected by a wide
and high arch. making practically single
tank ten feet in length: There were
a number Of pilot flsheS. The sharks were not
very large. for sharks. one OF them about hree
and hall feet, but any shark looks ierocous
and wicked. and these two seen from close ~
in this manner. behind glass, and, with their
traditional companion the plot l'sll. accom-
panying them, made an attractir exhibit.
The shark likes sea room. 1t will creep up
it like s space to move in. and at first those two
sharks were harasscd by these comparatively
narrow quarte:s. 1t was a gcnerous-sized
tank, and the very best that could be given to
them. but small. nevertheless. compared with
the pool from which they had come. Al first.
in hn ned pDI tn
they were finally persuaded to do SO. and after
II tlmc they became somewhat used to tho
They were forever on the go sailing down
through the arch to one end OF the tank. turn
ing there and coming back through the arch
and turning at the other end OF the tank and
SO kept going slowly round and round
boIiy tnG Two sharks t P'h ,h
one NOR" than the smaller one. But with tho
lapse OF time they began TO get weary again OF
I their narrow quarters and restless and ANXIOUS
TO get out tn" bigger one especially so, This
shark would jump half is length out Of water
! wall ali around. And then, ns It grew larger,
| tho shark found II harder work to turn NJ the
| ends Of the tank in It's swimming; 1t was n
| danger oi hitting it's nose or its tail, or both.
| and this was disturbing to t.. On" day last
week when it came TO one, of these ends that
| now seemed so difficult, II backed out and lay
| down and turned over on its back
| As rule it is an ominous sign when fish
! turns turtr and gives NJ. II may T." brought
! around again, hut it Is more likely, 10 die.
Visitors in the aquarium who saw this shark
I wing on us hN"k Thought II was Nndl' Dut
they changed their minds about that when. a
| little later they saw IT eating while still lying
/ on its back taking a niece OF iiSh mat was
| handed down to 1t nom the back OF the tank
! on the point oil Il stick. There is hone for II
/ nsh as long rs il viii eat: but again the same
! day IA" shark turned over on Its back, not To
! de got. hut 1t wa getting very tired and weary
! now Of its narrow quarters, and it was Iurs-
/ ton only when 1t would dIr il kent there, But
| III" time had EOw come when relief could be
| given to II.
| Whatever might have happened 10 the shark
, IN he tank. It would surely have died In the
| pool if put there when tho water was still cold
| hut the water in the pool WAS now al such Il
! temperature that the shark could endure ltand
| ind comfort in II. and 50 caEly last wees the
! big shark. after spending the winter in that
! wall tank. was put back in the pool, The tank
was ten feet, long. but SO narrow as com
, pured with the size OF the shark that the
shark had had hard work to turn in It;
the pool Is circular thrty.eiGht feet III
| diameter aud with six feet OF water. Here.
around the edge, the shark could ind an un-
| broken course OF III feet in length, with spa
clous reaches anywhere across lots wherever il
might turn in, After living in the tank, to set
| back to the pool again was comfort indeed, and
that the shark so regarded it seemed apparent
from every sweep OF its tail as IL swan slowly
! along in the pools broad waters.