Captain Shark-Killer 81 



skeptical, and, when I went out on my first hunt, it was a news event. Luckily, 

 I received this notice in the Sydney Daily Guardian: 



"Captain W. E. Young, well known in many parts of the world as a com- 

 mercial shark hunter, took a hoHday on Anzac Day, and went fishing in Sydney 

 Harbor with two of his colleagues. 



"Many and various were the lines which hung down from the boat's side, 

 and many and various were the creatures that came squirming into the cockpit; 

 but Captain Young was beyond such trivialities. His line was stout manila rope, 

 his hook was a terrifying affair reminiscent of a shepherd's crook, and his bait 

 was one large mullet. He watched the line and brooded, while the others trifled 

 with the flathead and similar prosaic beasts, and made merry amongst them- 

 selves. 



" 'I don't want a great big brute,' said Captain Bill, 'and I don't want a little 

 runt. I want a nice one— about 400 pounds. And I'm going to get it.' 



"And he did. His sudden bellow, 'Clear all lines!' meant swift and ordered 

 action, and within a few seconds the boat was cleared for combat. 



"Captain Young stood by the bitt round which his line was turned, and 

 watched intently the convulsive movements in the water, to which all eyes were 

 now directed. He took the line in his hands as soon as these movements changed 

 in character, and, with the dexterity of long experience, proceeded to find out 

 how safely the hook was embedded in the monster. 



"In those hands Mr. Shark never had a chance. When he dived, he found 

 himself swept up to the surface and above it; when he swerved he was pulled 

 around in a circle; when he made a full-speed attempt to get away from the 

 scene of his discomfiture he was stopped with a dreadful jerk as his tormentor 

 took a sudden turn with the line around the bitt. 



"Captain Young chuckled and spoke words of wisdom. 'Just about 400 

 pounds, I reckon.' The rope slackened and was as quickly hauled in. A tremen- 

 dous splashing, and a first view of the monstrous fish. 'No, I guess he's a "she." ' 



"More splashing, and another brief glimpse. 'A Tiger, about 10 feet.' 



"Five more minutes of watchful endeavor and cunning line-play; then, for 

 an instant a sleek gray head and a baleful eye appeared. Crack! 



"Young's automatic appeared from nowhere, planted a slug in exactly the 

 right spot, and disappeared again. Twenty seconds later the victor gazed down 

 cheerfully into the leering dead face, with its rows of ghastly teeth. 



" 'This lady's a respectable married woman. Let's tow her home and count 

 the family. About two dozen, I should say.' So Mrs. Tiger Shark went on her 

 last voyage, ignominiously dragged up the harbor. 



"There may be other men who can catch just the size shark they require, 

 and even name its length and species by the feel of the line. But Captain Young 

 raised himself above the heights of mere man when he finished his operation on 

 the corpse. Three pairs of eyes asked him a mute question, and he grinned 

 engaginglv. 



" 'Just twenty-four,' he said." 



That highly successful demonstration in Sydney Harbor did wonders for 

 our venture. Word spread that we were not a bunch of amateurs with a hare- 

 brained idea. And we received wonderful cooperation in setting up our station 

 in Pindimar. 



