FISHES OF NEW YORK 41 



fin above and below; the snout obtusely pointed, about one fifth 

 to one sixth of length of head; mouth very large; both jaws 

 with large, triangular, serrated teeth in five rows, those in the 

 lower jaw narrower, about 24 in each row above and 22 below; 

 spiracles minute or wanting; gill openings wide and all in 

 advance of the pectoral fin; first dorsal moderately large, in- 

 serted nearly midway between pectoral and ventral bases; 

 second dorsal and anal very small, subequal, their bases scarcely 

 more than one half as long as the snout; pectoral large, reach- 

 ing to below the end of the dorsal when extended, ventral 

 moderate, its length equal to nearly one fourth of that of the 

 head. Color leaden gray, lower parts white; tips and edges of 

 pectoral black. This shark reaches a length of 30 feet and a 

 weight of nearly 2 tons. It is found in the temperate and tropi- 

 cal parts of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, but is rare in New 

 York waters. 



The ferocity of the man-eater shark may be inferred from the 

 following account of a specimen 13 feet long taken at Province- 

 town Mass, and brought to Boston for exhibition. 



My specimen was captured at Provincetown June 16 . . . 

 When first seen it was swimming in about 10 feet of water on 

 the Long point side of Provincetown harbor. A boat's crew 

 having given chase, a harpoon was thrown into it, when it in- 

 stantly turned toward the boat and seized it with great ferocity 

 near the bows, in which act several of its teeth were broken 

 off. It was eventually killed by being frequently lanced. 



Jordan and Evermann record an individual about 30 feet long, 

 caught near Soquel Cal. which had in its stomach a young sea 

 lion weighing about 100 pounds. 



Family 



BasMng Sharks 

 Genus CETORHINUS Blainville 



Body stout, the skin much wrinkled and beset with small 

 spines; snout blunt: head small; mouth moderate, with numer- 

 ous small, conical teeth without cusps or serrations; spiracles 

 minute, above the corners of the mouth; gill openings very wide 



