The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1901-09-21
A Ride with n shark.

Among the Queer Steeds" of which
c. f. Holder tells in the st. Nicholas,
perhaps the queerest is a nurse
shark. captured at sea, and impounded
in tide water aquarium in Florida.
With no little difficulty we caught
the nurse towed it to the aquarium,
which was an inclosed moat half a
eight feet deep. 1t required dozen
or more men to haul the fish, which
was II feet in length, over the little
tide gate. Just before it was released
a rope bride was passed oyer it-a
loop that fitted over the head and was
frightened just behind the fins, so that
it remained in place. perfect saddle.
girth. To this rope about 10 feet
long was attached, and in turn made
fast to float. All this was prepared
in advance, and it did not require much
time to attach it, though the plunges
Of the shark knocked several men from
their feet. Finally all was ready, and
the shark was rolled over into the
moat, where it went dashing away, the
telltale float following at the surface.
For some time we had been engaged
in building a boat which was to be
the carriage of this steed. The masons
had given us the frame of great
brick arch upon which they were
working. This resemble6 a scow with
square ends. It was a perfect skiff,
except that the planks were an inch
apart; but we filled these crevices and
calked it with oakum. The day be-
fore the shark was caught the boat
was launched and tested, and it was
found that it would hold three boys,
two on lower seat, and one on the
box seat of the coach. The shark ride
was looked forward to with the great
est interest.
Finally the day arrived, and very
early, while the great tropical sun was
creeping up through the vermillion
clouds, we made our way around the
wall and to our marine carriage. Being
the originator Of the scheme, the priv
ilege of the box seat was awarded to
me. Literally, this seat was box
discarded cracker box. My two COM
panions sat upon board in the stern
to balance the skiff We were soon in
place, and sitting on the box l care
fully padded the little craft out from
the tide gate, and began the search for
our steed. padded down one side of
the great wall, keeping perfectly quiet
as every quick movement threatened
US with a capsize.
Presently we saw the float lying mo-
tionless on the water near the wall.
The shark was undoubtedly asleep, lit
tie suspecting the rude awakening that
was in store for him. l now handed
the paddle to one of the boys behind
me, and took in hand our painter. The
latter is the rope fastened to the boat,
and it was my intention to secure this
to the float and to arouse the shark.
One of my companions padded gent
ly, and the fiat bottomed boat slowly
drifted on. Leaning forward, | picked
up the float and quickly ran the paint
er through hole that had been left
in the float for the purpose, and fas-
tened it with bovine knot in
very seamanlike manner. When ttcr
was done, l hauled in the slack and
gently pulled the rein, while one of the
boys "clucked" at the shark and the
other said "Gedap!" No response.
Then gave another jerk at the line,
and the sharp woke up.
l have often read of boys who wake
at sunrise and bound out of bed with
a single leap, and have always thought
that such sudden awakening could be
true only in books. But that was eX-
actly how this shark woke. 1t fairly
leaped out of a sound sleep, and jerKed
the skiff ahead so violently that the
box seat upset and I fell backward
upon my companions. The upset was
certainly not a very dignified begin
ming, and l. heard a roar of laughter
from some fun-loving lookers-on.
The shark. now feeling the rope,
dashed along at rapid pace, making
it extremely difficult for us to retain
our places; but my companions aided
me, Carefully raising me, they righted
the r.. l secured the painter and
held the single rein in triumph. 1t
was a signal success. We had har-
messed the shark, and were moving at
a rate that was wildly exciting. The
speed was so great that the boat was
pulled almost bow under. and a wave
Of foam preceded us. The boys held |
on tightly, but occasionally raised one
hand and waved their hats and cheerad |
when a head appeared at portfolio of |
the fort.
The King of Portugal is an expert |
IN ichthyology, and has written sew
,ral scientific memoirs on the subject.
He is very fond of fishing in the sea |