The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1906-02-01

x60sE the more northerly Norwe-
gian ports. The crews are for the
most part made up of pure-hlooded
descendants of the vikings, who are
still to be found in any number among
the cod-hshers of Hammerfest ana
Tromso. And n magnificent race of
men they are! Accustomed from boy
hood to life of hardship, they have a
way of treating Father Neptune with
slightly contemptuous liberation.
like an old friend of somewhat uncer-
tain temper, whose rapid changes
from smiling benevolence TO wild,
clustering anger are on the whole
rather amusing than otherwise
They care nothing for danger, and
little for suffering-ln themselves or
in others. Why, then, should they
stop TO think that perhaps manned,
but still living shark can feel?
The fishing is done off the coast of
Iceland in about eighty fathoms of
water. Three or four gallows-like
structures are rugged up around the
sides of the sloop, and from each of
these hangs pulley-block, over which
runs strong rope; and to the end of
this the baited hook is fastened. A
plentiful supply of ground-bait is
thrown out to attract the quarry, and
such is the eagerness with which the
sharks take the bait, that sometimes
each one of these gallows-like fishing
rods will have its fish hooked and fight
ing for life, all at the same time.
There is no playing" the fish; 1t is
not necessary or possible, and the pow
erful tackle is hardly likely to break
no matter how fiercely the hooked
shark may struggle. But the shark is
not for his size, a game fish; and, ex-
cept when he Is actually being hoisted
up out of the water, there is no very
serious strain on the tackle. If he does
now and then get away, it is not be-
cause he ever manages to break the
line, but because a lightly fixed hook
easily tears through the soft cartilage
nous skeleton of his head, and so sets
him free.
AS soon as a shark has taken one of
the bats, the hauling tackle attached
to his particular gallows is manned,
and without any superilous fuss or
ceremony he is hauled up to the sloop,
and hoisted just clear of the water.
He is not Thought ON board at all
but with a few bold slashes his liver
is cut out as he hangs, and Is thrown
into tub. to be further dealt with
later. Then his eyes are put out. and
hn 10 oIr RI nj a
the tardy process of dying where and
how he pleases.
All this sounds very horrible; but
there is one curious fact which goes fan
to make us believe that this death can
not, after all, be such cruel one as al
first appears. 1t is this: the fishermen
say that, unless they put out the
sharks eyes, he will afterward cause
them a lot of trouble. by coming and
taking the bait a second time.
1t sounds incredible; but the state
ment is thoroughly well authenticated
by eye-witnesses, who have seen q
liverless shark do just this very thing
Scientists, doubtless. are right In say
ing that the shark (Which by anatomi
cal classification is one of the lowest
of fishes does not feel pain in the way
more highly organized animals feel it
We will cling to that belief; for 1t is
consoling-to us. IL not to the shark
who is thus sacrificed that his Liver
may supply us wlth-what?
1t Is q secret not to be spoken aloud
Norway is one of the great centres OF
the cod trade, and from cod is made
cod-liver oil, and-shark-liver oil tastes
and looks exactly like it.-Pearson'S
Magazine.