The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1908-03-29

cles and other marine parasites that
cling to their hides. Putting out from
the island of Santa Margarita, located
on one side OF the bay, is fiat reef
of coral. washed at low tide by only
foot or two of water. This island and
reef is a favorite and constant rendez-
vous of sharks which are troubled with
these barnacles. Instinctiyely the
foul-sided sharks select places where
their bodies are just awash and lie
there for hours, while the waves gent
Iy rock them to and fro over the
rough edges of the reef. This may be
called natures treatment" but it is
very effective, for it soon removes eV-
cry vestige Of the barnacles.
Catch Many Whoppers.
Often a score or more of these huge
tigers of the sea" may be seen doing
contentedly on the shallow reef, as the
warm waters roll them laZily TO and
fro. This reef is jocularly known
among the navy men as the sharks
dry dock"-a very appropriate title.
Like every member Of the shark fam
lily, the Magdalena Bay tiger" will
snap at any sort of bait Shark fish
ing affords no end Of fun TO the jack
les and marines while sOjOurning in
those Mexican waters. Many a whOp-
per is 'snagged" on a big sharp steel
hook, to which is attached rope line
sufficiently strong to hold young
bull. The captured sharks invariably
make a long. savage fight. but II the
hook and line do not snap his shark
ship is finally conquered, pulled on
board, killed and his skin and teeth
preserved as trophies
Officers and men Of the navy always
enjoy the regular overheard morning
plunge bath in tropical waters, but
this is fraught with extreme peril i'll
MagdaIena bay. No sane person
would think for an instant Of running
such a risk. There is no record
where any navy man has lost his life
from sharks in those immediate waters
but no instance is on record where any
one has rashly exposed himself to the
teeth of these ravenOus ocean tigers.
There is a public bathroom where
officers and men may battle to their
hearts content, and in perfect safety,
in salt water. A place about 10 by IL
yards has been very securely fenced
off, extending outward from the shore.
1t is absolutely "shark proof, and men
may indulge in a brine plunge with
perfect immunl,y from peril.
Both Badly Frightened.
However, one hot day at very high
flood tide a big shark managed to
founder unobserved over the top of
this path fence The tide receding
he was trapped. Soon after a young
navy officer plunged into the big pool,
never dreaming of the sharks pres
ence A moment later he discovered
the floundering monster man-eater and
nearly broke his neck in gaining the
shore. which he reached safely 1t
was question which was the more
frightened-officer or shark. The
alarm being given. a crowd collected
and the shark was shot to death and
hauled out. 1t was over I feet
The huge turtles are not so easily
captured, but all the difficulties are
amply repaid. These big. unwieIdy
creatures are scarcely less numerous
than the sharks. The green fat, which
lies along the lower shell is one Of the
richest and greatest delic0 cies known
to the cultivated epiCuTe: the rest Of
the meat. though somewhat tough. is
worked up into the most delicious soup
The Mexican cooks of the bay have a
special style of cooking these turtles.
which is claimed to be uneQualed. The
marines. blue and jacktar, fairly rev
ell on turtle diet when in this bay,
and the officers do not turn up their
noses at it. either
AS to the rattlers. they cOnfine
themselves exclusively to the shore.
and the boys in blue don't mind EN- to
speak Of The MeXicans call them 'el
Muerto blanco." the white deathD
They regard the bite Of these reptiles
as sure death. but such is not the case.
Several sailors have been stung. but
the effects have speedily yielded to the
usual remedy-ermanga of pOtas-
Sium.