The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1906-07-27
THE BEST OF SPORTS
GREATEST CHARM FOR THE
ANGLER is FREAK FISHING.
Varies the Monotony of Ordinary Pur-
suit of the Finny Tribe-Taking
Small Sharks with Rod
and Reel.

and Reel.
The Florida fishing season is now
in fun swing, and the disciples of
Izaak Walton are pulling in tarpon.
kingfish and Jewish in the regula-
ton manner, but for many amateurs
freak fishing has the greatest charm
to pursue devil fish with sail or mo-
tor boat or bait sharks and san
them is much sport
To say the least such freak work
varles the monotony of tarpon or
kingfish angling, affords greater dane
ger and excitement, and occasionally
leads up 10 that champion of sea de-
mons-a 14-foot sawfsh. which Will
wreck a boat if it can. Some of the
carnivorous fish weigh up TO 5000
pounds, or more than two tons. at
least SO says Edward Nom Hole.
of New York, an expert in such pur-
suits.
Mr.. Nom Hofe captures devil fish
at Punta Rosa and southwark. his
largest weighing over 1000 pounds.
He says he finds them IN groups of
from three to ten, floating on the
surface with the tide. feeding ON FISH.
for which they seem 10 fly under the
water with a vampirelike motion of
their huge wings.
Mr. Vom Hofes views on the ham
merhead shark would indicate that it
is a mammal, like the whale. rather
than a fish a female which weighed
upward of 800 pounds he says, when
cut open was found to have % young
shark within weighing from three to-
four pounds each. The hammerhcads
are found on the bottom. They are
baited for with fish heads, the hooks
and lines being cast overheard lu
a churn Of blood
Mr. Vom Hofe used a small stout
rope for his fish line when angling
for all kinds OF sharks. Attached is
a brake made of rounded wood, split
in twain. which prevents the rapid
running Of the rope from burning tho
hands. The rope is coiled ON tho
bottom of tho boat. When the ham
merhead is hooked the boat is
beached as soon as possible, and the
shark is worked toward the shore.
AS soon as the hammerhcad ap-
proaches within distance he is gated
and dispatched
There is no finer sport than t0
angle for small sharks with rod
and reel and hook specimens weigh
ing under 800 pounds one is fairly
safe in handling small sharks if
armed with a good stout fish knife
having six inches of blade or even
a strong gaf. The main thing is
to get knife or gaff home through
the throat the vital spot. before talk
ing the fish into boat or ON
wharf otherwise they will dcrcoly
attack the angler and may snap off
a hand or foot.
Fish bites are somewhat poisonous,
and a shark bite is dangerously $50.
A fish i'm swapping the hand will often
leave a tooth point under the skin
causing a serious sore. Immediate
cauterization is necessary for such
wounds. No person should go fish
ing for sharks without stick of
caustic nitrate Of silver i'm his
pocket.
In fishing for large sharks tho har
pooh becomes mans good friend. and
must be hurled with deadly aCcu-
racy before the great fish is taken
aboard in Florida the rope ia
passed ashore If possible. and tho
shark dragged to the beach where
there is room to kill him or let him
die naturally At sea the tackle is
rugged to the boom and the shark
hauled up to IT, where his throat FRS
cut. The wise angler who hooks
big shark from a rowhoat with mo-
weapon but oars, discreetly cuts the
line if he cannot get his tackle
ashore. A large shark Will, when
maddened. attack a roWboat and
smash it.
Such a shark, weighing nearly 1000
pounds. would readily make indIUr
wood Of a rowboat with his tail and
jaws.