The Ordway new era. (Ordway, Colo.) 1902-1927, 1914-06-26

Of Samoa never let pass an
opportunity to kill . shark.
The waters which surround
that little world arc infested
BY them; and sometimes . native will
BE- caught and killed by one Of the
terrible man-eating monsters-Q quite
frequently enough. indeed. to give
savags . ssst to the sport It would
be dih1cult to say whether even bird
occupies . higher place. The
natives are wonderfully expert and
courageous, and ~ the nssh Of the
SHARK II the principal dainty at their
great fsasts. parties Of men are for
svsr going in search Of II.
The favor1te time II when . storm
has Just blown itself out. for the
sharks have bssn driven inshors. and
may BE- found shsltsring in great
numbsrs under the black rocks that
border the lasoons. The men. who
have yowed out In . frai canoe, throw
food overheard. piece BY pisce. and
this serves the double purpose Of At
tracing the sharks and gofging them
70 that they may b. rendered easy
Of capture. a TIE watsF around ths
boat quickly becomes alive with the
brutss. and when the bait 10 dsvoured
they retire to the shadowy waters
whore rocks ovefhang stretches Of
smooth sand. and there they lastly
stretch themselves At full length. and
sink Into Q half sleep.
csteh Thsm Aslssp.
TIE natives in the canoe paddle
slowly along, and presently discover
one Of these sharks In drowsy slum-
Der. The leader Of the fishers raises
his hand IN signal 10 the paddlsrs to
stay the courss Of the boat, and one
nnan-ssnsrally . young and active
over the side into the
water. and. with the moose Of . strong
rope Of bark hbsr in his hand. dives
beneath the surface. Swimming
quietly along under the water. no
comes to . sleeping fsh. and with .
quick. deft movement slips the moose
over its tan.
Tnen. - gently ~ he came. he 70
turns to the canoe, and when he has
safely back into It the ma
tives take hold Of the rope and rouse
the shark from its sleep with .
mighty pull together. The shark 10
dragged through the water before II
has time to reflect. and in spite Of it,
sudden panic and frenxied struggles,
Il 10 gradually hauled toward the boat.
By keeping its tail clear Of the water
the natives have made It practically
helpless: and at last, BY peculiar
they jerk II into the canoe,
and tremendous blow with . club
its career.
sometimes the shark has backed In
to . crevice or hole in the rocks be-
fore II has settled down to sleep. 90
that its head alone II accessible. In
such q case the diver will swim up to
II. and with the utmost cooiness tap
Il gently but firmly on the head.
Sleepy and gorged with food - II il,
and annoyed BY the interruption, with
out knowing exactly the cause Of II,
the shark turns round with . swish
In space barely large enough for II
to lie In. Az II does 10 It exposes III
tail. and the diver cleverly drops the
moose over It and returns to the boat
In the customary manner. For the
sake of variety. . baited hook 10 car
ried out BY these natives and dropped
In about IL feet OF water. the line
being then brought back TO land
When Q shark SEXES the bait, and IL
safely hooked. the natives shoulder
the rope at the edge Of the water, and,
singing rude. measured chant, dance
Inland, dragging the nsh into the shall
lows. where II 10 speedily killed.
Sport 70 Dangerous.
The sport IL exceedingly dangerous.
- can BE- imagined. but the Samoans
arc taught to be a. much at home in
the water ~ are the sharks, 30 that
an astonishing Indifference IL dis
played toward them. In some parts
Of the islands. shark-ishing IL r.
garded - being ~ much . trade -
. sport, and the operations are car
Rcd out BY . different method from
those described above. The fishers
5