Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-03-17
atlisfsllaneous 8sadins.
FISHING FOR SHARKS.
Natives of Samoa Have Great Sport as
Business.

Natives of Samoa Have Great Sport as
Business.
We who live on the island Of Samoa
never let an opportunity pass to kill a
shark, says a writer in Chambers
Journal. The waters which surround
our little world are infested with
them: and sometimes a native will be
caught and killed by one Of the terrible
man eating monsters-quite frequent
, ly enough indeed, to give a savage zest
to the sport. 1t would be difficult to
say whether even bird d-catching occu-
pies higher place in the regard Of any
one Of us. The natives are wonderful
ly expert and courageous, and as the
flesh Of the shark Is the principal
dainty at their great feasts, parties of
men are forever going in search Of 1t.
The favorite time Is when a storm
has just blown itself out, for the sharks
found sheltering in great numbers un-
der the black rocks that border the la
goons. The men, who have rowed out
in a frail canoe throw food overheard,
piece by piece, and this serves the
double purpose Of attracting the
sharks and gorging them so that they
may be rendered easy Of capture The
water around the boat quickly be-
comes alive with the brutes and when
the bait is devoured they retire to the
shady waters where rocks overhang
stretches Of smooth sand, and there
they lazily stretch themselves at full
length. and sink into a half sleep. The
natives in the canoe paddle slowly
along, and presently discover one Of
| these sharks in drowsy slumber. The
leader Of the fishers raises his hand in
| signal to the paddlers to stay in the
course Of the boat, and one man-gen-
| orally a young and active fellow
climbs over the side into the water,
and, with the moose Of strong rope
Of bark fiber in his hand, dives beneath
the surface. Swimming quietly along
under the water, he comes to a sleep
ing fish and with quick, deft move
ment slips the moose over its tail.
Then, as gently as he came he returns
to the canoe and when he has clam
bered safely back into it the natives
take hold of the rope and rouse the
shark from its sleep with mighty
pull together. The shark Is dragged
through the water before it has time
to reflect and in spite Of its sudden
panic and frenzied struggles, it is
gradually hauled toward the boat. BY
keeping it's tail clear Of the water the
natives have made it practically help
ment, they jerk it into the canoe and
tremendous blow with club finishes
it's career
Sometimes the. shark has backed in
it has settled down to sleep, so that
it's head alone is accessible. In such
case the diver will swim up to 1t,
and with the utmost GOODNESS tap 1t
gently but firmly on the head. Sleepy
and gorged with food as it is, and an
noyed by the interruption, without
knowing exactly the cause Of 1t, the
shark turns around with a swish in a
space barely largely enough for it to lie
in. AS 1t does so it exposes its tail,
and the diver cleverly drops the moose
over it and returns to the boat in the
customary manner. For the sake of
variety, have seen baited hook car
ried out by these natives and dropped
in about twelve feet Of water, the line
being then brought back to land. When
n shark siezes the bait, and is safely
hooked, the natives shoulder the rope
at the edge Of the water, and singing a
rude, measured chant, dance inland,
dragging the fish into the shadows,
where it is speedily killed.
The sport is exceedingly dangerous.
as can be imagined, but we Samoans
are taught to be as much at home in
the water as are the sharks, so that
an astonishing Indifference Is display
ed toward them. In some parts Of the
islands shark fishing is regarded as
and the operations are carried out by
a different method from those describ-
ed above. The fishers tie a rope fif
teen or twenty feet around a barrel
that has been well plugged up and
made water tight. To the end Of the
barrel is fastened a large steel hook
baited with dried fish. Several Of these
barrels, with rope and hook attached
are put on board a yacht and a start
is made for the noted shark grounds
just outside the harbor. When the
boat is fairly under way, and the crew
become very excited by the anticipa-
tions Of revenge and good trade, and
break out into eager chattering, dane
ing and barbaric song. On their arriv-
al at the shark ground the casks and
lines are thrown overheard about 100
yards apart, and the yacht cruises
around awaiting developments.
Presently one Of the barrels COM
mences to rock up and down and
dance at n great rate, sometimes dis
appearing under the water and reap
pearing at a distance. Then boat is
lowered and it's occupants row as rap
idly as possible toward the floating
barrel Backward and forward, in
circles and winding lines, the elusive
cask is pursued, and only after long
period of hard rowing, sometimes for
hours, is it captured and tOwed to the
yacht, the hooked fish dragging after
it as matter of course.
Many times l have gone down with
the natives to the beach when night |
has fallen to witness midnight fishing. |
The tactics pursued are now different, |
for the Samoans are full Of resources. |
A line of great strength 800 feet long, |
is employed with the usual hook and
chain attached and baited as described |
above. One end Of the rope is tied to |
the wharf and the we'll baited hook is |
thrown a few yards away into shall !
low pool in the middle Of a patch Of
moonlit sand. Very soon dark object |
is seen gliding like a shadow from the |
deep water across the sand toward