10 A NATURALIST ON THE "CHALLENGER." 



The sharks, as a rule, were not by any means so easily 

 caught as I had expected. Frequently they were shy and would 

 not take a bait near the ship, though they never failed to bite if 

 it was floated some distance astern by means of a wooden float. 

 It is always worth while for naturalists to take what sharks they 

 can at sea, since their stomachs may contain rare cuttle fish 

 which may not be procured by any other means. The sharks 

 caught were always suspended over the screw well of the ship. 

 It was amusing on the first occasion on which one was got on 

 board, sprawling and lashing about on the deck, to see two 

 spaniels belonging to officers on board put their bristles up and 

 growl, ready to fly at the fish. The dogs would probably have 

 lost their heads in its mouth if not driven back. 



Sometimes the sharks were bold enough and would bite at a 

 bit of pork hung over the ship's side on the regulation shark 

 hook which is supplied to ships in the navy, and which is an 

 iron crook as thick as one's little finger, and mounted on a heavy 

 chain. No shark was hooked during the voyage which was 

 large enough to require such a hook. Nearly all the sharks 

 caught and seen were very small, from five to seven feet in 

 length. The largest obtained was, I think, one netted at San 

 Jago, Cape Yerde Islands, which was 14 feet in length. Large 

 sharks seem scarce. I was disappointed, and had expected to 

 meet with much larger ones on so long a voyage. The largest 

 shark known seems to be Carcharodon rondelettii of Australia. 

 There are in the British Museum the jaws of a specimen of this 

 species which was 36 \ feet in length. (Giinther, " Catalogue of 

 Fishes.") The "Challenger" dredged in the Pacific Ocean in deep 

 water numerous teeth of what must be an immensely large 

 species of this genus. The great Basking-shark (Selache maxima), 

 a harmless beast with very minute teeth, ranging from the 

 Arctic seas to the coast of Portugal, has been known to attain a 

 length of more than 30 feet. 



Sharks occasionally seize the patent logs, which being of 

 bright brass and constantly towed, twirling behind ships, no 

 doubt appear to them like spinning baits intended for their use. 

 The pilot fish often mistakes a ship for a large shark, and swims 

 for days just before the bows, which it takes for the shark's 



