Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-10-03

boat. They were between three
tand four feet long. with an &C.
casional big one thatran TO six or
seven feet. Obviously they were
after the small fish which clus-
tered about us constantly now
feeding on the moss which had
begun TO grow on the bottom OF
the raft.
At this time there were about
dozen of these beautifully col
ored tropical species swimming
about, now and then disappearing
beneath US in their search for
food.
Gene was vigilant with his
knife, trying to repeat his feat OF
giliing one. Sometimes when Gene
became tired / took the knife. and
several times I came pretty close
to getting one of the sharks. but
I was more optimistic of spear
ling a smaller fish. They came
within reach frequently as they
made for the food growing on the
RATS bottom.
big One Comes
Then a leopard shark. about
seven feet long. cruised. up and
frightened all the smaller sharks
away. He seemed more interested
i'm the boat than In his natural
prey. He slid around the boat
several times. about a hundred
feet away. with his dorsal fin sail
ing high out of the water.
After he looked us over a while
he swept directly under the boat
diving 10 about two feet beneath
the surface. If I had had the
pistol could have shot him as he
returned slowly. at a speed Of
three or four knots.
was not pleased at his soaring
those prospective meals away
the smaller sharks and fish.
thought had better chase him off
Tony" i said, "hand me the
gun"
Pistol ready. waited. I figured
that the leopard shark would 60
around the boat, and try swim
ming under us again. Sure enough,
he passed under the boat, swung
out about 20 yards, circled around
10 the leeward side. and headed
straight in toward the boat again
as before.
Pistol Ready
I threw the pistol off safe,
and got ready. not moving for
fear of soaring him as he moved in
This time he did not sound. but
approached smoothly and deliber.
ately, straight down the wake OF
the boat. He almost stopped wher
his head was directly below my
pointed pistol. The muzzle was
only about four inches above his
forehead. Quickly centering my
aim. pulled the trigger.
The blast almost blew the CUR
from my hand. but somehow ]
managed to maintain my grip. The
muzzle's being so close to the
surface blew a fine shower into
the air from the powder charge
and IL was a second or two before
could see what had happened
TO the shark.
When things cleared away, ht
was down about 10 feet, spinning
around and down like a corkscrew
HE was sounding as rapidly as nc
could. and these sharks have tire.
mendous power. He was gaining
momentum at every twist Of his
sinewy body.
Evidently I had wounded him
mortally; 1 never saw him again
1 had hoped TO kill him. but ]
learned later that a sharks brair
is more toward his nose than ]
had aimed. 1 probably broke hi:
spinal column.
| Sharks Pile Tn
In a very short space there wa:
a whole pack of sharks around.
assumed that they had already
polished off their wounded fellow
and were looking for further prey
as they did each morning anc
evening when the fish were feed.
ing.
We were disappointed at having
killed fair game and yet beinf
unable to claim il for meal
About this time we were begin.
ming TO notice a deterioration ir
our physical condition. All Of u:
were losing weight rapidly now
We were long. why types
was the heaviest, weighing about
40 pounds when we started. Sc
far, however, we had borne uI
very well, but now our experience
was about to take its toll, thai
was plain.
We were not downhearted, yet
With each passing day we felt our
chances were better Of being res.
cued by a convoy: we knew that
many of them must be passing
Through these waters.
OF course. when war broke out
our vessels were forced TO swine
wide of the regular trade routes
because the Japs were in posses.
sion of the Marshalis and other
groups OF islands In that area. AZ
that particular time the enemy