The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-28
Are You Game for Fight
With Shark Antagonist?
No Reason to Hold the Species in Contempt
times Gruelling Work Until Unconditional Sur
render-Struggles Until Gail IN
BY T. HERMAN BERINGER.

What surf fisherman has not had his
reveries rudely dispersed by the ener-
waiting appearance Of one or more
sharks lolling along In the undertow.
favoring him with malevolent glances
out Of eyes that are the embodiment of
sinister devilshness?
Surely 1t is not fear that causes his
flesh to creep and a shiver to pass along
his spine-not with such hot sun broil-
ing down upon his back.
More likely 1t Is the working of in
herent forces over which he has no con-
troll: or perhaps he is thinking of that
plunge he took only that morning. swim
ming two hundred yards off shore. and
resembling nothing SO much as a fine,
fat--but very animated pork chunk. Or
mayhap. especially II he were using
fresh bunker as bait. his reveries were
Interrupted by n quick. solid strike.
His idea OF what occurs In the next in
slant IL rather vague. but he remembers
seeing a dark form hurtle into view, to
disappear with a swivel beneath the sur
face. headed straight to sea.
Then, II his leader be of gut he ex-
periences a sudden relaxation OF his line,
and Keeling In, discovers that hts leader
has been clearly cut whereupon he
casts thousand mafedictions upon
sharks in general and that fast fleeing
shark in particular
II Is a regretable circumstance that
sharks are held in such contempt by
nearly all fishermen and in my opinion
that this attitude exists Ia due to the
manner In which smaller sharks weigh
ing up to fifty pounds quickly cease CIV
Ing battle after the first furious but
short rush.
A striped bass or channel weighing
from fifteen pounds to fifty will fight a
varying length OF time. lasting from a
half hour to an hour. much depending
upon conditions-tide rips. placement Of
hook, surf and yes. even in the tndividu-
ality of the fish
Piano Wire Leaders for Sharks.
Sharks range far and wide in their
quest for food and their appetites are in
satiable. II you would fain give battle
to one Of these tigers of the sea. go to a
spot on the shore where a Ash company
Is disposing OF the offal taken from the
tons OF fish which they catch in their
pounds.
These CUTS thrown into the undertow
are milled around by the varying tides
until they settle in the holes and chan
nels which usually exist. 1t was to such
SpOt ouc July biht ocNei al
kindred spirits myself among them, sal
lied forth to STAY shark; armed with
the average surf fshermen's weapons.
namely. fifteen ounce rods. two ought
reels and about 500 feet of new twelve
thread line.
The shark fisherman utilizes plano
wire in two foot lengths as leaders, two
lengths connected by barrel swivel In
the centre, and an eyed, hand forged
hook (from degrees up) at one end
being the proper arrangement.
Arrived at the battle front we fasten.
with white cotton thread. about one-half
OF menhaden (mossbunker) to our
hooks.
To make a cast of sufficient length
hampered by the length of leader. plus
the heavy and bulky barb is a trick not
easily turned. and one must needs wade
out TO the armpits in order to reach the
required distance.