Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1907-10-05
pulling N The SHARK
Lively Water Sport of Chin
colleague Island.
THEIR MEAT PALATABLE


Line Eetter than Any WIss-
chincoteague is almost OF the map
A more primitive and picturesque ~
land is not to be found on the South
ern coast. Situated al the southern
outlet Of Assateague Bay, II marks
the extreme northeastern limit OF
Virginia. All around II are wonder
ful breeding and resting places for
many sorts Of Wild fowl. Wild ponies
my be glimpged occasionally in It's
desert parts.
At haIf-past four O'Clock before the
night mist has fully cleared, the group
Of visitors embark I'm Charlie Num-
fords sixteen-foOt record breaking
-sharp-sail" for the fishing grounds.
Charlie is the man who shot one leg
OF while out duck shooting, and then
sailed twelve miles 10 get patched up.
Needless 10 state, he is the best man
on the island, makes his own boat,
and captures all the trophies for fast
sailing on that part OF the coast. He
also plays a violin, the work Of his
own hands, and the cornet; makes
his own decoys and his cork leg when
the old one succumbs 10 the strain Of
his strenuous life. He has even paint
ed his own portrait with some iidei-
ity. His boat carries a staggering sail
and with a fair wind will drive smart
| ~ twenty miles to sea, far outside
| Of the line Of coasters making their
long turn around the shoals. Then it's
ont anchor, says a writer in the New
| FORK Post.
When the anchor is out, pipes are
lighted Balancing on the long green
rollers, the fishermen prepare for the
days sport. IL is well TO restrain any
tendency toward sea-sickness, for the
day will be long.
AS in drum fishing cotton lines are
used. These and all other necessaries
can be obtained Of the natives. One
may Try piano or copper wire leaders,
/ II he likes. II doesn't matter. The
sharks will snap them. But the dOub-
| led cotton lines seem 10 get between
their teeth and can not be broken By
their usual tactics Of twisting somer-
saults. OF course, long shanked
shark hooks are indispensable.
Any sort Of small fish such as
are caught on the spot, are good bait
for the hungry shark. With a small
supply as a beginning, enough are
caught casually to repIenIsn the bait
bsgwket. crocuses, king fish, fat backs
and many fish that nobody can iden-
| tify are split, placed upon the huge
/ hooks. and lowered 10 within a few
inches Of the bottom, where the lead
backed sharks are basking. Charlie
will probably have the first strike.
Without word, he haulg hand over
| hand with sfraining eineye, while the
line cuts the water IN vicious circles.
A fash of white CLEANS below, Ey-
or a four foot shark Is no joke. As
he reaches the surface, II Is ten 70
one that he will dive under the boat,
cut The snood, and depart, chewing the
big hook with apparent enjoyment De-
tween his grinnlDg teeth. But get a
six fOOter on the line, and /, axes
"a long pull and strong pull mere
| ~ 10 get him 10 10 the surface. Peg
hspS all hands may have ~ turn to-
IN order 10 save him Tor me fisher
man. And then II II problem 70
get him into the boat. If any slack r.
| given, he win take II and roll the line
and ali the other lines into a tbOus-
and sDarIs, Gan him speedily, ana
have the club and the sharp knife
| ready ~ give the corps De grace
| quickly. Let no unskiIIfm hands play
about those swapping Jaws, Or the
fisherman viii wish he had never seen
| shark.
This sort u fishing as, In fact, al
sorts, Is fuIi Of surprises. There are
other big hsh 10 be caught besides
sharks. The sharks Themselves are
Of many varieties, but al " them are
formed for swift swimming and y0Tac-
ious feeding. One peculiar Kind rvs a
| fan shaped head With eyes projected
10 the ends Of fecIerg four or
five inches long. This one
crs four OF five inches long. This orc
can easily study bis own scalp or gee
down bIs own fhroat-the latter Il u
no small advantage 70 a FISH that swal-
lows hastily.
While one may not believe thar
sharks are dangerous 10 a swimmer.
IN spite Of tropical tales 10 the con
trary. the writer would prefer not 70
experiment fully in person along this
lire. He would much prefer 70 esf
the shark. The coIorcd folk. by fEe
way. are fond Of them. and VIII
should not sharks az they call then.
be good food7 They are a. clean Or
cleaner feeders than the crab or lob
ster, and, when caught far off-shore
in the green water from white sandy
bottom, prolific Of good life. they
should make good flesh. Their meat Is
white and firm, better looking tnan
that Of the sturgeon, and az me-
grained az the famous ~fonoro" n tn
Italians. II more Of them were caught
and eaten. other Gsh-Iife would re