442 MODERN SEA FISHING 



delicious story of one which, being returned to the sea after its 

 liver had been cut out, chased a mackerel. This story has 

 been repeated in popular natural histories, but I confess I do 

 not believe it. Doubtless the mackerel and the shark were 

 swimming in the same direction, and there the pursuit began 

 and ended. 



The TOPE (Galeus vulgaris), another shark, variously 

 known as white-hound, penny-dog, and blue hornless dog Jish, 

 is a v.ry similar creature. In an old book, the ' History of 

 Harwich,' by Dale, this fish is termed the Sweet William. 

 Pennant imagines the name was conferred upon it ironically, 

 its flesh being offensive and smelling rankly ; but once, when 

 fishing off Deal, the man with us described a spineless dogfish 

 which I had just caught as a ' Sweet William,' and said it was 

 very good eating. Possibly it was one of these topes I did 

 not take much notice of the fish at the time. In appearance 

 it resembled a small blue dogfish, but was without that sharp 

 spine which inflicts such dangerous wounds. We caught some 

 of the spined dogfish, also some nurse-dogs, as they are termed 

 locally. These also are eaten at Deal, but the spined fish are 

 considered worthless. 



Topes are plentiful off parts of the East coast, and are 

 caught in considerable numbers during the summer months. 

 They are, strictly speaking, sharks, and not dogfish. Off the 

 coast of Devonshire and round Ireland they are common 

 fish, but less numerous in Cornish waters. One of the 

 largest specimens on record was caught in Dublin Bay, and 

 measured seven feet in length. 



The HAMMER-HEADED SHARK is an extraordinary creature 

 which takes its name from the very peculiar shape of its visage, 

 an eye being at each end of the hammer head. These remark- 

 able fish are only occasionally caught in British waters. When 

 large they are fierce and voracious. An enormous specimen, 



