24 GIANT FISHES 



he snaps the bone across where the cuts were made ; they then 

 cut flesh holes in the body of the fish on both sides, that will 

 take a large rope through them ; they then reeve ropes through 

 these holes, and by hauling taut on the side of the fish next 

 the vessel, and slacking away rope to the other side of the fish, 

 it will cant him over on his back. They then split down the 

 stomach, take out the liver, which is the only part they use 

 for oil, and let the rest of the fish go adrift." 



" . . . These fish are most powerful in the water, and if 

 harpooned in the shoulder they are very hard to kill, often 

 carrying off the whole harpoon line , but experienced har- 

 pooners strike them in the body near the dorsal fin, rather low 

 down, where it will go through into the intestines, or near the 

 vertebrae towards the tail. They must be struck with great 

 caution, as they will stave in the boat with a blow of their 

 tail, if it is at all within their reach." 



The shark is apparently quite indifferent to the approach 

 of a boat, and a clever harpooner is sometimes able to place 

 his weapon quite, close to the snout, thus preventing the fish 

 from diving before other harpoons can be brought into play. 

 A lean fish is said to hold out for a much longer period than a 

 fat one. 



THRESHER OR FOX SHARK. 



(Genus Alopias.) Fig. 15. 



Similar in form to the Porbeagles, but easily distinguished 

 by the very long tail, which is as long as the head and body 

 together, and gently curved rather like the blade of a scythe. 

 The tail is not provided with a keel. The snout is short and 

 blunt. The teeth are small, flat, triangular, and with smooth 

 edges. The external gill-clefts are only of moderate size. The 

 pectoral fins are long and sickle-shaped. The coloration is 

 dark greyish-brown to nearly black on the back and upper 

 parts of the sides, changing somewhat abruptly to the white 

 of the lower parts ; the lower sides of the pectoral fins and a 

 space below the gill-openings are leaden in hue. 



Grows to a length of 15 to 20 feet, and a weight of nearly 

 1000 lb. 



There is probably only one species of Thresher {A. vulpes), 



