viii Foreiuord 



ments besides have spent huge sums to try to develop an effective pro- 

 tection for men in shark-infested waters; yet, no foolproof repellent is 

 known today. 



Information on shark attacks upon men is now being gathered scien- 

 tifically on a world-wide scale for the first time; but, until we know 

 much more about the sharks themselves, and until an effective means of 

 protection against their attacks has been developed, they will remain a 

 constant threat to man whenever and wherever he enters waters in which 

 they dwell. Some species of sharks appear to be more prone to attack 

 humans than others, but just how many species should be classed as 

 dangerous we do not know. The size of the individual fish is no indica- 

 tion of its aggressiveness, its viciousness, or its potential. The largest of 

 the sharks— the mighty Whale shark and the great Basking shark— eat, 

 primarily, plankton and very small fish, have tiny teeth, and are generally 

 considered to be harmless. 



The Skates are generally inoffensive creatures and the same may be 

 said of the Rays. However, if molested or trodden upon unexpectedly, 

 some of the latter may inflict painful and even mortal wounds with their 

 "stings." Yet again, the largest of the Rays— the huge Manta or Devil- 

 Fish— does not have a sting and is harmless. Both Skates and Rays are of 

 world-wide distribution, but the Rays occur in both salt and fresh water, 

 and some species of the latter are found thousands of miles from the 

 oceans— almost to the headwaters of the Amazon and its tributaries, for 

 instance. The Sawfishes, which form another group related to the Sharks, 

 are also found in salt, brackish, and fresh water. Some of them in the 

 Pacific and the Indian Oceans attain great size and are capable of severing 

 a man with one swipe of their rostra— the great, flat, tooth-beset, bony 

 structure that projects from their heads. 



Man's age-old fear, hatred, and even worship of the Shark has preju- 

 diced and limited the eating of not only its flesh but also that of all 

 Selachians. Yet, they are eaten all over the world in all countries that 

 border the sea, though usually under some trade name that disguises their 

 true identity. Many species are excellent eating and they are almost all 

 good food. Selachians are readily marketed in all the major sea and fishing 

 ports of the world— New York, London, Barcelona, Marseilles, Hamburg, 

 Madras, San Francisco, Melbourne, Tokyo, and so on. Perhaps you, too, 

 have enjoyed an excellent fish dinner at some time or another and won- 

 dered at its fine flavor. It may well have been the flesh of some Selachian. 



We would have liked to have presented in this book some reassuring 

 and dependable prescription for avoiding shark attack. Unfortunately, 

 there is none. We base this pessimistic conclusion on reviews of the 

 circumstances of attacks around the world, selected samples of which 

 are reported in this book. 



