504 MODERN SEA FISHING 



knowing that if it were a tarpon the pain would cause it to rise 

 to the top and leap. It did not do so. 



' I am afraid it is a shark, sir,' remarked my guide. 



There are many people who think that shark fishing is done 

 over the side of a ship with a huge piece of pork attached to a 

 hook about twenty times as large as that used for any kind of 

 fishing. From the days of our youth we have heard of this 

 kind of thing, and no doubt they can be caught in this way ; 

 but with the aid of a revolver, or a long spear, a short stout 

 rod, and fine tackle, shark can be killed like any other fish. 



I can assure those who have never killed a shark on a line 

 that this particular fish gave me any amount of excitement. Hart 

 rowed as fast as he could, and I reeled in rapidly to gain line, 

 for woe betide the tarpon or shark fisher if his line is overrun. 

 I got within probably thirty yards of the fish, when he was off 

 again, and he ran down a branch creek for close upon half a 

 mile. A big shark can tow a boat a very considerable distance ; 

 but there seems to be one way of tiring him, and that is, to 

 get to one side of him, and then, using one's rod as a lever, 

 swing round and pull against him with all one's force. In 

 course of time that seems to exhaust him, and, revolver ready, 

 one can reel him in, shoot him through the nose, and let him 

 go down with the current, to be torn to pieces by his voracious 

 brothers. My shark was evidently tired when we got up to him, 

 and I could see his great seven-foot body looming green and 

 hideous beneath the water. What a loathsome-looking monster 

 a shark is ! It is said that he has the cruellest teeth and eyes 

 and the smallest heart of anything that swims. As I drew 

 him up I thought he was practically dead. I made a shot, but, 

 owing to the rocking boat and the excitement of the moment, 

 was not sufficiently accurate. I hit him in the back of the neck. 

 For a moment I thought the boat was upset. He lashed the 

 blood-stained water furiously, and the reel, upon which I had 



