The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-05
WINTER CARE OF SHARKS.
Warm Water Essential to Their Existence
Are Calm of NIien and Always Moving.

Sharks have been exhibited in their
season at the Aquarium every year
since it was opened. Some specimens
of considerable size have been seen
there and as many as dozen sand
sharks ranging from three to four and
half feet in lengta have been shown
a once in the great central pool, but
none has ever been carried through the
winter there before. The sharks do
not stay in these waters through the
winter, but go further south in the
fall to return in the spring.
They cannot be kept alive through
the winter here in water of the natural
temperature of the bay. though how
long they will survive in it depends on
circumstances They begin to drop off
in October and November, but few of
the harder specimens may last consid-
ably longer and in a moderate winter.
in which the temperature of the water
declined to its minimum gradually.
shark or two might hang on until jan
uary or even until February. One sea-
son a single shark lived until Feb. 10.
There are two sharks at the Aquarium
now that are lively and in good condi-
ton, but these are in tank supplied
with warmed water. They are prob
ably the first sharks so kept.
In October last these two sharks, one
of which is about three feet in length,
and the other about three and a half
feet. We're taken from among others in
the central pool and placed where they
now are, in double tank on the ground
floor tier, salt water side. where they
could get the benefit of the Aquarium s
warm water supply. which Is utilized
not only for the comfort and safe-keep-
ing of the tropical fishes, but for the
preservation also of some migratory
fishes that are familiar here in summer
and go south in winter. They were not
very big for sharks, but seen behind
glass and close at hand they looked
big and as any sharks looks wicked
and ferocious these sharks made an at
tractive exhibit. There We're placed
with them a number of pilot fish, ia
miliarly associated with the shark as
accompanying it. and these are still in
the tank
While the tank is of generous pro-
portions for tank, about ten feet in
length, it is very different from the
pool whence they were taken, which
Is 3S feet in diameter, with depth of
water of six feet; and at first in the
confinement of their comparatively re-
stricted new quarters the sharks would
take but little food. For a long time.
however, they have been feeding we'll.
Both have visibly increased in girth
and have increased in size otherwise.
There seems to be no reason barring
accidents, why they should not go
through the winter all right.
They are now apparently comfortable
and sufficiently at home and accustom-
ed to their surroundings not to be dis
turbed when their tank is cleaned,
which is done once a week. But calm
as they are in manner they are almost
always moving slowly about, saunter-
ing from one compartment to the other
of their double tank through the wide
connecting arch. Usually they go clean
to the end before they turn, throwing
their tails there smoothly and deliber-
ately. but hard, over to port, with re-
peated sweeps. steering themselves
thus around the end of the tank to
head up in the other direction and pass
again through the arch into the other
tank to turn there in the same man
ner and swim back again.
The pilot fish keep moving, too,
sometimes ahead of the sharks, some
| times behind them: sometimes a pilot
| fish will swim alongside of one of the
sharks: but they are not always to-
| gether. The swimming course is rather
| short. and possibly that makes it con-
fusing. At any rate, the pilot fish
sometimes turn short of the shark and
| sometimes the shark leaves them
| New York Sun.