552 THE BASKING SHARK. 



good authority as regards the Squalidae, informs us, for 

 instance, " on the information of persons of unques- 

 tionable veracity," that on the coast of NordLinden 

 one was captured seventy-two feet in length, the liver 

 alone of which filled fifteen tunnor, or barrels ; and 

 another one liundred and eight feet in length, whose 

 liver filled twenty-four tunnor.* It is possible, however, 

 that at the present day such monsters no longer exist, as, 

 owing to the constant war carried on against the s])ecies, 

 time does not admit of their arriving: at maturitv. Thou"h 

 this fish is of such enormous dimensions, it would seem 

 by all accounts to be perfectly harmless and peaceably 

 inclined ; and, unlike the greater part of its congeners, 

 who are voracity itself, and prey on all kinds of animals, 

 Avhether living or dead, that come within their reach, it 

 feeds solely, as it is believed, on molluscs, crustaceans, 

 and the like. Not even the remains of fish have been 

 found in its stomach. 



On the north-west coast of Norway there is something- 

 like a regular fishery — and it has been carried on for 

 more than a century — for the Basking Shark. The boats 

 used for the purpose are from thirty-six to forty feet in 

 length, and eacli has a crew of four men, Avho are amply 

 provided with harpoons and other impalements of destruc- 

 tion. The fishing season usually commences iu tlie 

 beginning' of August, when they cruise to and fro on 

 such parts of the coast as are known to be the favourite 

 haunts of the fish in question ; and when they see one 

 lying listlessly on the surface, as is its frequent habit 

 (hence its English name) the harpooner, after the boat 

 has approached it as nearly as possible, drives his weajion 



* The tunna liolds about twenty-six of oui- gallons. Ten to twelve 

 tunnfir of liver are considered to be equivalent to six to eight tunnor of oil. 

 At this rate, consequently, the last-mentioned fish must have furnished its 

 captors with 380 to 400 gallons of oil. 



