SHARKS AND SKATES. 



299 



ire of the superstitious sailors. They watch him as he swims around, and 

 realize that should they tumble overboard, a quick death and a In >mb 



is their fate. Nothing seems to them too bad for the insatiate m 

 and when shark-fishing is proposed, they heartily cute:' in. A large h 

 is obtained and made fast to a few fathoms of chain, and this in turn I 

 rope. The hook is now baited with a large piece of pork or 'sail h< 

 and thrown overboard. Like a flash the shark swims towards it. turns on 

 his back so as to bring the mouth in the proper posil ion ; a single gulp, ami 



Fig. 292. — Hammer-head shark (Sphryna zijf/sena). 



the monster is hooked. A block and tackle is now rigged, a noose is 

 around the tail, and the shark, twisting and squirming, is hauled oi 

 deck, where he lashes about in the wildest fashion. Ih- is not c< 

 yet; for his teeth are still formidable, and so is his tail. A sail 

 quickly in, strikes a terrible blow at the base of the tail with a 

 and all danger from the hinder part of the body is over. The task 

 ing the rest is quickly accomplished. 



^Sometimes the course of procedure is not so humane 

 detailed. The sailors can show no pity for a monster whon 



