The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-28
CAUGzzAT AKALQN CAL

with Its scores Of resorts where hundreds
Of people battle winter and summer. there
has never been al Instance Of person
being attacked by a shark: yet this great
hammerhead viii approach a boat and
swim about It with the utmost non
chalance and viii not hesitate to seize
fish hanging over the edge. have made
various experiments with large sharks to
test their strength I once hooked a ham
merhead off Avalon Bay which towed my
boat a mile. then when brought to the
surface It made repeated 1unges sufficient
" powerful to have pulled down the fat
bottom skif- If the line had been fast or
foul the fish would have taken 1t beneath
the surface This fish continued to swim
out to sea despite my Efforts but a feet
of small boats which had been following
caught up. and one by one fastened on;
not. however. until the fifth boat was fast
and the men rowing was the seward
movement OF the shark stopped. 1t toyved
five boats and four men rowing against 1t
and gave IN only when the sixth boat
the fifth besides my own-began to work
against #.
The terrific force Of the rush Of these
fishes can hardly be realized by any one
who has Eot experienced It. shark OF
unknown size which I hooked in the
channel Of Garden Key. Gulf OF Mexico.
towed my heavy boat for over a mile at
speed approximating that Of a tug In
passing an eight-oared barge threw a rope
TO me and for q few moments this IN
known giant towed the barge, stern first;
then the chain. q massive snood, broke
and the shark went its way. The sharks
ut this place were easily baited up by
throwing over the refuse Of the slaughter
A..
the methods Of attack on surface animals
] had dead COW towed to the locality
and made fast to IA stake buoy, then
fastening my boat to a coral patch with
the aid Of a coral hook, I had my boat
man turn over two or three pailsfui of
bullock blood and other reiectnmenta Of
the slaughter house A result was ap-
probable in less than 10 Minutes and I
recall no more disagreeabl sight than the
contemplation of these enormous sharks
rising out of the blue channel beneath ne
in such Increasing numbers that
water appeared to be literally alive with
them. They came up under the boat to
within 10 feet and I watched them partly
through water glass which brought
them practically within rwo or three feet.
They would Use in curiosity. ttcn turn.
giving flash Of a white belly. showing
enormous mouth line. The. COW was In
spected in this way for some minutes.
then very large shark. at least 10 feet
In length, came alongside and swan
around it. as though to inspect It: then
the monster turned. end Instead Of com
Ing up and turning upon its back after a
fashion described In books, 1t advanced
on the surface and seized the animal and
jerked 1t beneath the surface. biting a
huge piece out Of 1t. The others had been
holding back afraid evidently OF this one.
and general attack on the animal now
ensued. during which It was repeatedly
carried beneath the surface. but being
filled with gas 1t rose like a balloon when
released, only to be hauled down again.
resulting in a struggle that well Ilustr4t-
ed the feroeity. Of the shark. which when
really hungry Will continue to eat even
though it Is being devoured by another
fish and Is fatally wounded. Such a shark
has been seen TO eat and tear at prey
while a lance was repeatedly thrust into
it,
hooked shark singie-handec upon
one occasion at Garden Key from the
beach, aud played Il to the waters edge