179 BAITING THE SHARK. 



was driven over the taffrail where we stood, while the gleam- 

 ing body of the fish repeatedly burst through the dark 

 waves, as if writhing with fierce and terrible convulsions. 

 Sometimes, also, we thought we heard a shrill, bellowing 

 cry, as if indicative of anguish and rage, rising through the 

 gurgling waters. His fury was, however, soon exhausted; 

 in a short time the sounds broke away into distance, and the 

 agitation of the sea subsided. The shark had given himself 

 up to the tides, as unable to struggle against the approach 

 of death, and they were carrying his body unresistingly ta 

 the beach." 



In the South Sea Islands sharks are caught by means of 

 a log of wood, set afloat with a strong rope attached to it, 

 having a noose at the head. The fish, with his natural im- 

 petuosity, gets his head entangled, and, floundering about in 

 attemps to escape, becomes tired out, and is then easily dis- 

 patched. 



Captain Basil Hall gives an interesting account of the 

 capture of one of these huge monsters. He says : 



" The sharp, curved dorsal (the back) fin of an enormous 

 shark was seen rising about six inches above the water, and 

 cutting the glazed surface of the sea by as fine a line as if a 

 sickle had been drawn along it. * Messenger, run to the cook 

 for a piece of pork,' cried the captain, taking the command 

 with as much glee as if an enemy's cruiser had been in sight. 

 'Where's yoar hook, quarter-master?' 'Here, sir, here!' 

 cried the fellow, feeling the point, and declaring it was as 

 sharp as any lady's needle ; and at the next instant piercing 

 with it a huge junk of pork, weighing four or five pounds. 

 The hook, which is as large as a little finger, has a curvature 

 about as large as a man's hand when half closed, and is six 

 or eight inches in length, while a formidable line, furnished 

 with three or four feet of chain attached to the end of the 

 mizzen-top tail-halyard, is now cast into the ship's wake. 



" Sometimes the very instant the bait is cast over the 



