Commercial Shark Fishing in the Caribbean Area 105 



Figure 36 



Family Insuridae, Mackerel and Man Eater Sharks. 



Genus Carcharodon, Man Eater. Teeth triangular, blade-like, with 

 regularly serrate edges. 



Figure 36: Carcharodon carcharias, Man-Eater. 



Description: Trunk stouter than that of the Mako, but tapering 

 similarly rearward, with the caudal peduncle flattened above and 

 below and expanded widely sidewise as sharp-edged keels ; also 

 with a deep transverse furrow above and below close to the origin 

 of the caudai fin. Snout conical, but relatively shorter and less 

 tapering than in the Mako (often distorted, however, when heavy 

 specimens are dragged up the beach by the upper jaw) ; spiracle 

 pore-like or lacking; the longest gill opening between 1-1/2 and 2 

 times as long as the snout (in front of mouth). Mouth more 

 broadly rounded than in the Mako. Teeth (its most distinctive 

 feature), 12 on each side of upper jaw and 11 or 12 in lower, with 

 coarsely serrate edges ; the uppers triangular, about as broad as 

 high, with nearly straight edges ; lowers narrower, their margins 

 more concave ; one (at most two) series functional ; the first dorsal 

 nearly an equilateral triangle, with narrow tip; second dorsal only 

 about 1/5 to 1/6 as long and as high as first; caudal crescent, its 

 lower lobe about 4/5 as long as the upper; anal similar to second 

 dorsal, its origin close behind the base- of the latter; pectorals 

 noticeably large, nearly 1/2 as broad as long, with rounded tip 

 and strongly concave distal margin. 



Color: Specimens seen have been slate gray or almost black 

 above, dirty white below, with a prominent black spot on the 

 axils (armpits) of the pectorals. The tips of the pectorals are also 

 more or less spotted with black on the lower surface. Large ones 

 have been described as much paler or even leaden white. 



Size: One of the largest of sharks, apparently not maturing 

 until 13 to 14 feet long, often growing to 16 to 20 feet and, at least 

 occasionally, to 30 to 36 feet. The largest West Indian specimen 

 (Cuban) positively measured was 21 feet. One of 8 feet may be 

 expected to weigh about 600 pounds, increasing to 900 to 1,000 

 pounds at 9 to 10 feet, to about 1,300 pounds at 13 feet, with a recorded 

 weight of 7,000 pounds at 21 feet. 



Habits: A strong active shark of the high seas, though it does 

 not have the leaping habit of the Mako. Doubtless it is the most 

 voracious of fishes, regularly capturing prey as large as sea turtles, 

 other sharks, seals, and so forth. It also feeds on a wide variety 

 of smaller fishes and on squids. On occasion, also, it is a proverbial 

 scavenger, and it is one of the few species against which the 

 charge of unprovoked attack on small boats as well as on swimmers 

 is amply proven. It has long borne the reputation of a "man-eater." 

 Its flesh is palatable and as salable as that of the Mackerel Sharks. 



Range: Widespread in the warmer latitudes of all oceans both 

 offshore and inshore, but fortunately not plentiful anywhere. Long 



