Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-07
SHARKS" RAVAGES ON JERSEY
COAST PUZZLE TO SCIENCE
Continued from PaEe One

Continued from Page One
several times for information which would
substantiate an authenticated instance, but
even with this inducement no one has ever
appeared with a case that would bear up
under scrutiny.
The presence of sharks In New Jersey
waters, In the opinion of many scientists,
was due to the scarcity Of food In their
native waters. In their quest they prob
ably ranged along the coast in the wake
of the menhaden fishers and have been
lurking about the entrance Of the Delaware
Bay or In the Atlantic nearby. feeding
upon the foodfsh cast back into those
waters.
This theory finds many supporters here.
as revealed upon inquiry among persons
who are versed in the habits of deepsea
fish.
Another and moro deeply scientific theory
is that the frequent shiT,nSs of the Gulf
stream. which sweeps the -yuthern Atlantic
coast, may have drawn the tropical sharks
furher northward with Its varying cur
rents.
DR.. Paul J. sartain, who is corresponding
secretary of the Geographical Society of
Philadelphia, does not regard this as
probable theory, but at the offices of the
United States Hydrogrann'u Bureau in the
Bourse Building, 1t was said that reports
of arriving vessels show that the Gulf
stream varies almost daily In its changes,
and that under the influence of strong
easterly winds, fish of all sorts would easily
be driven with II to waters far more inland
than those they usually infest.
Concerning the Gulf Stream theory,
George s. Bliss, director of the United States
Weather Bureau here, does not regard II
as plausible as that the poor home supply
of food fish accounts for the foraging of
sharks in more remote places. while the
question is not one that comes under my
department officially" said Mr.. Bliss, II
NN.v kN-tl. nf
sharks along the bathing beaches to hum
ger and n search for food that they cannot
obtain in their usual grounds. From per-
sons 1 have talked with / have been in
formed that the fishing along the New Eng
land coast has been unusually poor this
season. and would not be surprised II this
condition extends to the southern waters,
where the sharks are more numerous"
Doctor Sartain, in discussing the Gulf
Stream as a possible factor In the solution
OF the question. declared that no decided
change Of the course of that mysterious
current had been reported within his knowl-
edge Such a condition, he asserted would
result in climatic changes along the shores
affected by the Gulf Stream that would
lilten that of England to Labrador and at
the same time raise proportionately the tenn
perature of the American seacoast washed
by the current. Examination of the rec
ords OF water temperatures taken by the
Hydrographic Bureau show no radical or
unusual phenomena in the temperature of
the water at Atlantic bathing places or
Mexican ports.
ANOTHER REASON.
Still another theory finds advocates
among persons who are familiar with sharks
and their ways. The fish, though large and
of carnivorous habits, is also somewhat lazy
and generally seeks home In quiet waters.
The activities OF submarine warfare and
other naval disturbances on the European
side of the ocean are held to have caused
a possible exodus OF the denizens of those
regions TO parts less agitated as places OF
abode With the lessening of ocean and
coastwise travel incident to the war, 1t is
also contended, sharks which. under ordinary
circumstances, would not venture out of
their tropical homes in quiet harbors and
inlets. are lured out into the main waters
of the Atlantic. and lured by the warm cur
rent OF the Gulf Stream follow its course
much farther northward than when 1t forms
the track OF the large steamships
Transatlantic travellers and sailors tell of
hungry sharks following in the wake OF
matter thrown overheard. This supply, it
this time; in fact, It has almost disap-
peared. The suggestion is made that deep
sea sharks are Yenturing nearer shore in
their hunt for food that formerly came to
them in midocean.
The shark. natuTalists declare. is vora-
cious, but seldom has attacked a man except
in desperate cases Of hunger. 1t makes
its chief diet upon the small marine organ