Zoological Society. 



493 



teiini, ohliqn^ striatuM, diaphand, nitiduM, fuho-lutescente ; 

 spird subelevatd, apice obtusd ; anfractibus 4 planiuscuUs, ul- 

 timo obsolete subangtdato ; columella brevissimd, bast sub- 

 nodosd, in eallum circumscriptum, sub lente grannlatum retror- 

 sum dilatatd; aperturd subobliqud, setnilunari ; peristomate 

 simplice, breviter expanso, margine basali leviter arcuato, in 

 nodulum columellaretn sensim transiente. 



Diam. 5, altit. 3i mill. 



Hab. Honduras ; Mr. Dyson. 



May 28. — William Yarrell, Esq., Vice-President, in the Chair. 



The following papers were read : — 



1,. On Shark Fishing at Kurrachee. In a Letter from 

 Dr. Buist, LL.D., F.R.S. etc., of Bombay, to Colonel 

 Sykes. (Communicated by Colonel Sykes.) 



There are thirteen large boats, with crews 

 of twelve men each, constantly employed in 

 the shark fishery at Kurrachee ; the value of 

 the fins sent to market varying from 15,000 

 to 18,000 rupees, or 1000 to 1200 rupees for 

 each boat, after allowing the Banian or factor 

 his profit. One boat will sometimes capture 

 at a draught as many as one hundred sharks 

 of different sizes. The fishermen are very 

 averse to revealmg the amount of their cap- 

 tures. Inquiries of this sort are supposed 

 by them to be made exclusively for the pur- 

 pose of taxation. The average capture of 

 each boat probably amounts to about 3000, 

 so as to give the whole sharks captured at not 

 less than 40,000 a year. The Great Basking 

 Shark, or Mhor, is always harpooned : it is 

 found floating or asleep near the surface of 

 the water ; it is then stuck with a harpoon 

 of the size and form indicated in the annexed 

 woodcut. 



The fish, once struck, is allowed to run 

 till tired ; it is then pidled in, and beaten with clubs till stunned. A 

 large hook is now hooked into its eyes or nostrils, or wherever it 

 can be got most easily attached, and by this the shark is towed on 

 shore ; several boats are requisite for towing. The Mhor is often 

 40, sometimes 60 feet m length ; the mouth is occasionally 4 feet 

 wide. 



All other varieties of shark are caught in nets, in somewhat like 

 the way in which herrings are caught at home. The net is made of 

 strong English whip-cord ; the meshes about six inches ; they are 

 generally 6 feet wide, and from 600 to 800 fathoms, or from three- 

 quarters to nearly a mile, in length. On the one side are floats of 

 wood about 4 feet in length, at intervals of 6 feet ; on the other, 



Line, 600 fathoms. 

 Cane shaft- 8 feet. 

 Iron shaft, 1 foot 6 inches. 

 Barb, 5 inches. 



