102 SPORT IN NORTH AMERICA. 



was evidently ready for anything, for he rose to the 

 surface of the water, and sported about like a tunny 

 fish or bouito. My friend turned pale with fright, 

 for the monster was from twenty to twenty-two feet 

 long. In a very short time, he had swallowed a 

 bushel of cabbage stumps, carrot tops, and pea- 

 shucks, Avhich we had brought out as bait for the 

 blue fishj and we were at a loss how to manage him, 

 when our fisherman caught hold of a little bottle 

 which had contained a pint of brandy, and threw it 

 in the water, when it was swallowed up in a moment 

 by the shark. 



" Ha ! Ha ! " cried he, " the rascal has a good 

 appetite, and we'll soon have him. Here's a bit 

 of ham, gentlemen. Can you spare this for the 

 shark?" 



" By all means." 



On this, the fisherman baited a large hook, which 

 was furnished with a strong wire snood, to the lump 

 of Cincinnati ham, and threw it out fastened to an 

 inch and a quarter rope. He let the Hne pay out, 

 so as to bring the ham close to the nose of the 

 shark, but, contrary to that voracious habit which 

 makes them snap up everything, our friend turned 

 over and over and smelt at the hook without snap- 

 ping at it. At last, however, he made up his mind, 

 turned himself upon his back, or rather upon his 

 side, and the hook disappeared down his throat. 

 At the same moment, our fisherman gave a violent 



