have involved data collected by either shark fisheries or control programs. 

 While such sources are useful, they are limited in number and most have 

 already been tapped. Furthermore, for obtaining ecological information, 

 sampling programs operated for such purposes as fisheries or control 

 efforts are less effective than sampling programs designed by an ecologist. 



Thus, it is unrealistic to expect thorough studies of all species of 

 sharks or even all dangerous ones. Consequently, we recommend two main 

 thrusts in ecological studies of single species: 1) Establishment of a 

 uniform reporting and storage system for ecological data on all species, 

 and 2) Concentrated studies on a few representative and preferably ubi- 

 quitous species. 



b. Proposed Shark Data Bank 



Obviously, there are in existence, potentially useful ecological data 

 on sharks, much of them collected incidental to other marine research. 

 Such data are unlikely to ever be published. Furthermore, it is likely 

 that, with encouragement, even more useful ecological data could be 

 collected by marine scientists in the future. 



To make such data more widely available, we recommend production and 

 distribution of a standard, computer-compatible data reporting format, 

 centralized storage of these data, and their availability to interested 

 scientists. The format should include species, size, sex, reproductive 

 condition, stomach contents, wounds, parasites, etc. of the specimen, and 

 collection data such as location, time, depth, temperature, bottom type, 

 and gear. We suggest that instructions and data sheets be included in the 

 synoptic "Guide to the Sharks of the World" mentioned above and that the 

 National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) is the likely service agency for 

 deposition and dissemination of the data. 



Such a data bank would be useful in several respects. First, by 

 central collection of data from widely scattered sources it seems likely 

 that a more coherent picture of the ecology of even rarely studied species 

 (e.g., the great white shark) will emerge. In addition, given that the 

 data may not be sufficient or reliable enough for publication, it could 

 at least serve as a preliminary base for intensive studies and could help 

 to indicate to what extent data from an extensive study of one species 

 can be extrapolated to others. Finally, the existence and distribution of 

 a standardized data format would stimulate taking and recording of eco- 

 logically pertinent data by non-specialists who might ordinarily make no 

 or limited notes on sharks taken incidentally. 



c. Proposed Single Species Investigations 



It is further recommended that intensive ecological studies be carried 

 out for the few species which constitute the principal hazard to man in 

 the sea. Though positive identification of the sharks which have attacked 

 humans is rarely obtained, enough such information is available to implicate 

 the great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias , and the tiger shark, 

 Galeocerdo cuvier , as clearly the most dangerous to man. 



The white shark is a large circumglobal pelagic species, more often 



