Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-12-30
SOME GIANT ELS. es.
Four Kinds of Sharks Which Stand
in the Front hank for Size.

Four Kinds of Sharks Which Stand
in the Front hank for Size.
AT the mention of giant fishes many
young folk will at once think of the
sharks, among viii h, indeed, are
found the largest existing fishes. OF
the numerous kinds of sharks note
worthy on account of their size there
are four in the front rank; these are
the sleeper shark, the man-eater
shark, the basking shark and the
whale shark.
The sleeper shark, whose scientific
name (Somniosus microcephalus,
meaning sleepy small-headed fish
fits it so admirably, appears to have
developed its body at the expense OF
its brain, for 1t is a sluggish, stupid
giutton, about six times as long as the
average man. Its home is in the Arc
tic regions, but it sometimes makes
visits as far south as Massachusetts,
Oregon and the British Isles. 1t is
usually seen lying quietly at the sur
face, apparently doing, and is easily
approached by vessels; but sometimes.
when hungry, it rouses itself and goes
in search Of its prey, fiercely attack
ing and injuring whales, apparently
unconscious of the great difference in
their respective sizes.
One of the largest, and perhaps the
most formidable, Of sharks is the
"man-eater," or great blue shark
(Carcharodon carcharias). 1t roams
through all temperate and tropical
seas, and is everywhere dreaded Its
maximum length is forty feet and It's
teeth are three inches long. While
there are few authentic records OF
sharks attacking human beings, there
have undoubtedly been many cases OF
sharks simply swallowing people who
have fallen overheard, just as they
would swallow any other food. How
easy it would be for a man-eater to
devour person may be judged from
the finding Of whole hundred
pound sea lion in the stomach of q
thirty-foot shark on the California
coast. A certain man-eater, thirty-six
and half feet long, had jaws twenty
inches wide inside and teeth two and
a half inches long.
The basking shark, known also as
the elephant shark and bone-shark
(Cetorhinus maximus) Is an inhabit-
ant Of the polar seas, but is occasion
ally observed as far south as Virginia
and California, and some years ago
was not rare on the English and New
England coasts. 1t reaches a maxi
mum lenght Of fifty feet, and is ex-
ceeded in size by only three or four
animals now alive. Provided with
small teeth, 1t feeds on fishes and
floating crustaceans, and is not of a
ferocious disposition. 1t is dangerous
only because Of its great bulk, and
when attacked its powerful tail easily
demolishes small boats. The basking
shark was formerly hunted on the
coasts Of Norway and ireland for its
oil. 1t was also sought on the shores
of Massac achusetts in the early part of
the last century, and many of these
sharks from twenty-five to thirty eight
feet long were recorded. The liver Of
large specimen sometimes yielded
twelve barrels of oil.
The largest Of all fishes, the largest
Of all cold-blooded animals, and the
largest Of all existing whales, is the
whale shark Rhineodon typicus), orig
inally discovered at the Cape of Good
Hope, but now known in Japan,
India, South America, Panama, Call
fornia and elsewhere, specimen hav-
ing recently been obtained in Florida.
This shark is said to attain length
Of seventy feet, and is known to ex-
ceed fifty feet.-St. Nicholas.