Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-12-03
Some Giant Fishes.

At the mention of giant fishes many
young folk viii at once think of the
sharks. among which, indeed, are found
the largest existing fishes OF the ma
mer0us kinds of sharks noteworthy 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 tSomuiUsus mcroeephalus, mean
lng sleepy small-headcd fish, fits il SO
admirably, appears Ia have developed its
body ut the expense of its brain. for ii
is Il sluggish. stupid gmtton, about ak
times AZ long as the average man. Its
home is in the Arctic regions. hut il some
times makes visits as far south as Mas
sachusettS, Oregon and the British isles
1t is usually seen lying quietly nj the
surface, apparently doing, and is easily
approached by vessels; Int sometimes,
when hungry, II rouses itself and goes in
search of its prey, tercely attacking and
inIuring whales, apparently unconscious
ot 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 Waftharodon
carcharasl. 1t roams through all tenn
perate and tropical seas, and in every
where dreaded. Its maximum length is
forty feet and rs teeth are three inches
long. While there are few authentic
records Of sharks attacking human be-
ings. there have undoubtedly been many
eases of sharks simply swallowing people
who have fallen overheard, Just as they
would swallow any other food How
easy 1t would be for n man-cntcr TO de
your a person, may be judged from the
ltndlng of whole hundred-puund sea
lion IN the stomach Of a thiuy-f0ot shark
on the California coast. 4 certain man.
cater. thirty-siN and 4 half feet long,
had jaws twenty inches wide and teeth
two and a half inches long.
The baskiug- shark. known also az the
elephant shark and honc-shark (Ceiorhi-
nus maXimnsl, IL an inhahitant OF the
polar seas, but is occasionally observed
rs far south as Virginia and California,
aud some years ago was not rare on the
English and New England coasts IL
-cHChes maximum length of fifty feet,
and is exceeded in size by only three or
four animals now alive. Provided with
small teeth, il feeds on fishes and float
ing frustaceAns, aud is not of a fprocious
disposition. II is dangerous only he
cause Of its great bulk. and when at
tackled IT'S powerful tail easily dcmolishcs
small boats. The haskiug. shark was
formerly hunted on the coasts OF Norway
and ireland for its oil. II was also
sought on the shores of Massachusetts
in the carly part of the last century,
and many Of these sharks from twenty
five to thirty-cight feet long were re-
corded, The liver of large specimen
sometimes yielded twelve barrels of oil.
The largest of all fishes, the largest or
all cold-boodcd animals, and the largest
of nil existing animals, except few
kinds Of whales. is tho whale shark.
tIthincod0n typicusl, originally discovered
ut the Cape Of Good Hope. hut now
known in Japan, India. South America,
Panama, California and elsewhere,
Specimen having recently been obtained
in Florida. This shark il said 10 attain
a length of seventy feet. ana is known
to exceed fifty fcct.-~St Nicholas.