Beyond the Horizon 271 



object within its reach. In the stomach of a white 

 shark, it is said, was once found a woman's workbox; 

 while the papers of a slaveship, which had been jetti- 

 soned, were found in that of another. This creature 

 will not hesitate to attack humans, and it is capable of 

 tearing off a limb or even severing the trunk. Numer- 

 ous accounts have been given of instances where a man 

 armed only with a knife has gone into the water and 

 worsted a shark, usually a shore shark; but here is one 

 beast which man has probably never braved in its own 

 element; no one could successfully cope with a brute as 

 huge as this and provided with such a terrible apparatus 

 of saw-edged teeth. Still, it may easily be captured 

 alive. South Sea Islanders are said to use a curious, 

 though simple, device which consists of a floating log 

 with a strong rope attached to it. At the end of the 

 rope is a noose; and the animals gathering about from 

 curiosity, one of their number usually succeeds in en- 

 gaging its head in the trap, finally exhausting itself in 

 trying to get free. Sailors catch this creature by using 

 a great hook baited with a piece of meat. The hook is 

 fastened to a chain, since the powerful jaws and teeth 

 of the animal would bite through any ordinary rope 

 with ease. 



Perhaps just as common, and even as much to be 

 feared, but considerably smaller is its near relative the 

 blue shark {Carcharias glaiiciis) . This shark is pro- 

 portionately more slender, and is seldom over seven 

 feet long. The upper part is blue; underneath, it is 

 white. Although normally a dweller of warm waters, 

 it often extends its range, for it has been observed as 

 far north as Long Island Sound, apparently coming in 



