Chap, i.] SHARKS. 9 



what sharks they can at sea, since their stomachs may contain 

 rare cuttle fish which may not be procured by any other means. 

 The sharks caught were ahvays suspended over the screw well 

 of the ship. It was amusing on the first occasion on which 

 one was got on board, sprawling and lashing about on the 

 deck, to see two spaniels belonging to officers on board put 

 their bristles up and growl, ready to fly at the fish. The dogs 

 would probably have lost their heads in its mouth if not driven 

 back. 



Sometimes the sharks were bold enough and would bite at 

 a bit of pork hung over the ship's side on the regulation shark 

 hook which is supplied to ships in the navy, and which is an 

 iron crook as thick as one's little finger, and mounted on a 

 heavy chain. No shark was hooked during the voyage which 

 was large enough to require such a hook. Nearly all the 

 sharks caught and seen were very small, from five to seven feet 

 in length. The largest obtained was, I think, one netted at 

 San Jago, Cape Verde Islands, which was 14 feet in length. 

 Large sharks seem scarce. I was disappointed, and had 

 expected to meet with much larger ones on so long a voyage. 

 The largest shark known seems to be Carcharodon rondelettii 

 of Australia. There are in the British Museum the jaws of 

 a specimen of this species which was 36I feet in length. 

 (Giinther, " Catalogue of Fishes.") The " Challenger " dredged 

 in the Pacific Ocean in deep water numerous teeth of what 

 must be an immensely large species of this genus. The great 

 Basking-shark {Selache inaximd), a harmless beast with very 

 minute teeth, ranging from the Arctic seas to the coast of 

 Portugal, has been known to attain a length of more than 30 

 feet. 



Sharks occasionally seize the patent logs, which being of 

 bright brass and constantly towed, twirling behind ships, no 

 doubt appear to them like spinning baits intended for their 

 use. The pilot fish often mistakes a ship for a large shark, 

 and swims for days just before the bows, which it takes for 

 the shark's snout. After a time the fish becomes wiser and 

 departs, no doubt thinking it has got hold of a very stupid 

 shark, and hungrily wondering why its large companion does 

 not seize some food and drop it some morsels. The " Suckers " 

 often make the same mistake, and cling to a ship for days 

 when they have lost their shark. I fancy that porpoises and 

 whales, when they accompany a ship for several days, think 

 they are attending a large whale. A Hump-back whale 

 followed the " Challenger " for several days in the South Pacific. 

 Island of St. Thomas, March 16th to 24th, 1873.— The 

 island of St. Thomas, one of the Virgin Islands, or Danish 



