552 THE BASKING SHAI1K. 



good autlmriiv as regards tlie Squalida*, informs us, for 

 instance, " on the information of persons of unques- 

 tionable veracity," that on the coast of Nordlanden 

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

 alone of which filled fifteen tunnor, or barrels ; and 

 another one hundred nnd eight feet in length, whosi- 

 liver filled twenty-four tunnor.* It is possible, hm\r\< -r. 

 that at the present day such monsters no longer exist. 

 owing to the constant war carried on against the species, 

 time does not admit of their arriving at maturity. Though 

 this fish is of such enormous dimensions, it, would seem 

 by all accounts to be perfectly harmless and peaceably 

 inclined ; and, unlike the m-eater part of its congeners, 

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

 whether 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 each has a crew of four men, who are amply 

 provided with harpoons and other implements of destruc- 

 tion. The fishing season usually commences in the 

 beginning of August, when they cruise to and fro on 

 such parts of the coast as are known to he 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 I'.n-lisli name) the harpooner, after the boat 

 has approached it as nearly as possiM,-, drives his \\eapon 



* Tin- tunna hoMs ;l lxnit twenty six of our gallon*. Ti-n In 

 tun nor of liver an-c-onsiilrrril to ! c,|uiv:ili-nt to six 1,1 fi^'lit tunnor of oil. 

 \r thU r.ilr. rini-M-ijui'iitlv, tin- last iiii'iitimii-il Mi must have furnish, ! it~ 

 captors with :f*<i to nn pill.,n> of oil. 



