The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-23
SHARK NsRSNG.


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HcxoIuLu, July s.--one OF Honoiulu's
most exciting pastimes Is shark fish,
Ing. Large sharks abound OIL Honolulu
harbor, and party Of fishermen may
usually count on bringing back one or
two 500 monsters from eight to fourteen
feet long by going three or four miles from
shore. Tbs fish may either be harpooned
or hooked, the latter method being the
easier. The harpooning Ia more danger
Gus and moro difficult.
The shark fishers need . small launch,
q. dead horse, some harpoons or hooks
and some large oaliber rifles. The horse
u sometimes killed day or two before
tho expedition, as sharks are supposed to
like their horse meat "high.' This Ia not
necessary, however. and Is not advisable,
for there y no special pleasure In dragging
through the harbor horse that has been
dead long enough really to resent 1t.
/, Ths horse u tied at the end Of q rope
and lift to hoat about sixty feet away
from the launch out In the open sea, and
then The walt for sharks begins. A shark
viii usually show up In very short time.
AZ . distance Of sixty feet he is long
green object OF indefinite outlines. He
approaches the dead horse slowly until
few fest away and then veers of to one
side and disappears. But he always re-
turns. Over and over again. sometimes
for an hour. he will circle about the dead
animal, seeming to be as suspicious as
any fox.
While the shark ID making these re-
peated, Investigations the bait Is slowly
drawn toward the boat. Some interest,"
ing gltmpees of tho shark are obtainable
during this process. He will slowly glide
through the water up to the food and then
suddenly turn on his side and take bite.
II It IL close enough one gets an idea OF
what he can do In the biting line. In an
expedition last month dogs were used. no
horse having been obtainable. Within
three feet Of the fishers on the boat a huge
shark turned, opened his jaws and seized
a dog. The dog was tied to the rope.
There was q wriggle of the huge green
looking body, splashing Of surface water
and the shark moved on. The dog was
bitten clean in half.
When happening Is to be done. the bait
Is drawn gradually closer until the shark
hsrpoon y plunged into him and battle
begins. The shark will plunge for deep
water and tow the boat at rapid pace.
His strength is extraordinary and the fight
10 sure to be long one. There 10 nothing
for It but to tire him out, and the only way
to do this Is to let him stru ggle as he will.
Gradually he is drawn nearer and nearer to
| the boat, and soon he is hauled to the surface
in a condition approaching exhaustion.
| Then the rifles come into play, but at the
first shots he will often carry the harpoon
and rope of with him again and renew the
Theirs Is a spot under the gills where
fatal wound can be inflicted with large
rife bullet, but shooting in rocking
small boat Is not likely to be accurate. and
| the right spot Is seldom reached at once.
The sharks are more easily hooked than
harpooned From the side OF the boat they
| may DO seen swimming about below. The
use Of box with a glass bottom makes
| possible splendid view OF them. On the
occasion already referred to the other half
and let down among them. Through the
| glass a huge shark was seen SLOWLY to ap-
preach, turn and seize the bait. In some
way or other the hook failed to catch and
| the shark let 60 when the rope was jerkedi
But he came back at once and seized It
| again. Two men, pulling as sailors pull
on a halyard, slowly drew him to the sur.
| face, where fine view was had OF his head
and jaws, with five rows Of sword teeth.
Four men with heavy rifles stood ready
at his head The shark gave a jerk that
Tot the line away from those who were
| holding It. and down he went to deep water
again. He was hauled Up and shot after
| shot was fred into his head while one MEM
Der Of tho party used spear to reach vital
spot Under this sort of attack he soon
lost activity. The shark was IL feet 4inches
In length.
Many tourists who come to Honolulu
ret up shark fishing parties. There are
launches and assistants for hire. The
shark usually goes to the fishermen who
haID md small 81 m Is to be realized from
| the oil It's liver affords.