The sun., 1919-06-08
RECORD SHARK TOWS
BOAT 40 MINUTES
Big Leopard Harpooned by
Capt. Thomson Finally Per-
forated With Bullets.
IN ATTACK CLOSES EYES
Organ Of Vision Replaced by
Muscles Capable of Endur-
ing Severest Blows.
ny FRED wELLMAN.

MIAMI, Fla. June THE record
leopard shark recently harpooned BY
capt. Charles Thomson was landed on
the occasion OF one OF the periodic shark
hunts of the Miami Anglers Club.
A dead COW was anchored near Sel-
diers Key. south OF Miami, and the
waters plentlfully sprinkled with blood.
even q small amount or which will at
tract leopard sharks. the tigers Of the
sea, for miles around Z
AS the big shark In question came up
TO what he fancled his prey, Capt.
Thomson succeeded in landing a har-
poon squarely in the middle OF his
back, and from that moment on the
shark's doom was sealed though he
Dehaved In a manner entirely uncon-
cerned
II Is characteristic OF leopard sharks
not to stir up much fuss and comrno-
ton when harpooned, but to go ON
ABOUT their business much as usual
! swimming powerfully but calmly and
with apparent confidence in their ability
10 escape. ~
This may be accounted for by tho
peculiar savageness and ferocity OF
these beasts, who truly know no cofi-
! queror save man. Incredible tales are
told or their power and viciousness when
In pursuit Of prey, and truly n look at
| them, with their huge maws and teri
rifying display OF teeth, is enough to
engender belief in the widest story that
mas ever been concocted for their benefit
Perforatea xN,,h pun -
The particular shark in question,
however. had met his master, and after
| ABOUT forty minutes OF towing the boat
ABOUT finally was brought close enough
Tor a second harpoon. after which he
was more roughly handled. As long a.
tnere Is only one harpoon in a shark
more or less delicate handling is rec
| ouired, as the power of the brutes IL
such that they are apt to break the
| line at any moment. With two harpoons
IN place. however. II is safe to haul
vigorously.
Short shrift Is given shark, and con-
seQuently as soon as he could be hauled
near he was plentifully perforated with
bullets from an automatic revolver and
| brought ashore
1t Is never safe TO play with shark,
especially Of the leopard variety, whsn
close TO a boat. Usually, when they
realize the nature OF the opposition they
| are encounterlng. they will roll over and
try to bite the lines that hold them. aad
| once they get them fairly within their
jaws they generally accomplish their
| purpose. Or. falling in this. they will
close their eyes and rush the boat, biting
any projection they can get hold OF.
| -
Teeth Embedded in Heavy Oak
| Capt. Thomson recently had a struggle
with leopard shark who bit off one
OF the struts on the propeller of his
boat and then grabbed the boat by the
rudder and shook it as a terrier shakes
rat. When the boat was hauled out
| FOR repairs several of the sharks teeth
were found firmly embedded in the
| heavy oak.
Leopard shark are the only variety OF
| shark capable of closing their ewes,
which they accomplish by turning their
eyes up inside Of them. the eyeball beitis
replaced by a whitish membrane under
| laid with powerful muscles capable OF
| enduring the severest blow.
| When leopard shark closes his eyes
and starts to come" says Capt. Thoni-
| son, look out. because he Is going right
through the boat II he can. biting out
| anything ahead of him" For this rea-
son no time is lost quieting the shark as
soon as possible. He Ia not a creature 10
be monkeyed with at any time