Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1904-11-19
SOME GIANT FISHES.
Four Kinds of Sharks Which stand
in the Front Rank for Size.


AT the mention OF giant fishes many
young folk will at once think or the
sharks, among which, indeed, are FOUND
the largest existing lis ;. or the num-
erous kinds of sharks noteworthy on
account OF their size there are four in
the front rank; these are the sleeper
shark The nan.eater shark, the bask-
ing shark and the whale shark.
The sIeeper-shark, whose scientific
name tS0mniosus micrOcephalus,
meaning sleepy small-headed fish) fits
IL SO admirably, appears to have de-
veloped its body at the expense OF its
brain, for it is a sluggish, stupid glut-
ton, about six times as long as the
average man. Its home is in the
Arctic regions. but ii sometimes
makes visits as far south as Massachu.
setts. Oregon and the British Isles. 1t
As usually seen lying quietly at the
surface. apparently doing, and Is cas-
lily approached by vessels; but some
times, when hungry, ii rouses itself
and goes in search OF its prey, tiercely
attacking and injuring whales. appar'
entity unconscious of the great differ
+hce In their respective sizes.
One of the largest, and perhaps the
most formidable of sharks is the
"man-eater," or great blue shark
tCharcharOdOn carcharias). 1t roams
through all temperate and tropical
seas, and is everywhere dreaded. Its
maximum length is forty feet and its
teeth are three inches long. While
there are few authentic reCoils oi
sharks attacking human beings, there
have unavoidaDly 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 a whole hundred.pound
sea lion in the stomach of 3O-foot
shark on the California coast. A
certain man-eater, SO l.2 feet long, had
jaws 20 inches wide inside and teeth
two and half inches long.
The basking shark, known also as
the elephant shark and bone-shark
tCetorhinus 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. II reaches a max
imum length Of so feet, and is exceed.
ed III size by only three or four ami
mails now alive. Provided with small
teeth. it feeds on fishes and floating
crustaceans, and Is not of ferocious
disposition, it Is dangerous only be-
cause Of its great bulk, and when at
tackled its powerful tail easily demolish.
es small boats. The basking-shark was
formerly hunted on the coasts Of Nor.
way and Ireland for its oil. 1t was
also sought on the shores Of Massachu-
century, and many of these sharks
from 25 to 3S feet long were recorded.
The liver OF large specimen some
times yielded twelve barrels of oil.
The largest Of all ll'fishes, the largest
OF all cold-bloOded animals and the
largest OF all existing animals, except
few kinds Of whales, is the whale
shark (Rhineodon typicus), originally
discovered at the Cape of Good Hope,
but now known In Japan, India, South
America, Panama, California and else.
where, specimen having recently
been obtained in Florida. This shark
is said to attain a length Of rs feet.
and is known to exceed SO feet.--From
Nature and Science, in st. Nicholas.