Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-11-23
SOME GIANT FISHES.
Four Kinds OF Sharks Which Stand
in the Front Rank for Size.

in the Front Rank for Size.
at the mention of giant fishes many
young folk will at once think of the
sharks, among which, indeed, are
found the largest existing fishes. OF
the numerous kinds of. sharks note
worthy OH account of their size there
are four in the front rank; these IRE
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-headel fish)
fits 1t so admirably, appears to have
developed its body at the expense OF
its brain, for it is sluggish, stupid
giutton, about six times us 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 ut the sur
face, apparently doing, and is easily
approached by vessels; but sometimes,
When hungry, it rousss itself and goes
In search of its prey, tiercely attack
Ing and injuring whales, apparently
unconscious of the great difference iii
their respective sizes.
One of the largest, and perhaps the
most formidable, of sharks is the
"man-eater," or great >biue shark
(Carcharodon carchnrias). 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 1t would be for man-eater to
devour person may be judged from
the finding of whole hundred
pound sea lion in the stomach of a
thirty-foot shark on the California
coast. A certain man-eater, thirty-six
and n half feet long, had jaws twenty
inches wide inside and teeth. two and
half inches long.
The basking- shark, known also us
the elephant shark ard bone shark
(CetorLinus 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 tie English and New
England coasts. 1t reaches 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 md
floating crustaceans, and is not of
ferocions disposition. 1t is dangerous
| only because of Its great bulk, and
when attacked it's powerful Tail easily
dcmolishes small Eoats. The basking
shark was formerly hunted on the
coasts of Norway and Ireland for its
oil. 1t WIGS also sought on the shores
of Massachusetts 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
n large specimen sometimes yielded
| twelve barrels of oil.
The largest of all fishes. the largest
of all cold-bloodel animals, and the
largest of all existing whales, is tho
Whale shark Whineodon typicusN, orig
inaliy discovered at the Cape of Good
Hope, but now known In Japan,
India, South. America, Panama, Call
fornia and elsewhere, a specimen hav-
ing recently eeen obtained in Florida.
This shark is said to attain. length
Of seventy feet, and is known to ext
coed fifty feet.-St. Nicholas.