68 FISHES I HAVE KNOWN 



parasitic insects off its body, and not, as hoary 

 nautical tradition avers, to act as "guide, philo- 

 sopher, and friend." 



The doctor was right We saw the unmistak- 

 able back fin of a huge shark slowly advancing 

 towards the ship. The bait was lowered a few feet 

 under water, purposely with a splash, and a turn 

 taken with the line round a belaying pin on the 

 rail. We had a group of willing helpers at hand, 

 and one man ready with a bowline. 



There was hardly any " way " on the ship, and 

 the line hung almost perpendicularly, and the pork 

 glistened in the water in a ghastly way, suggestive 

 of a human limb. 



Up came the monster with its pointed snout, 

 malignant eyes, and general predatory appearance. 

 It looked at the bait suspiciously, and sheered off 

 for a cruise round the ship. Having reconsidered 

 the matter, and being undeniably hungry, it again 

 approached the meat and covered the bait, as it 

 were, with its head, turning slightly over in the 

 process. 1 



The second mate, who superintended the pro- 

 ceedings, gave a tremendous jerk to the line, the 

 barb went home, the shark was well hooked, and 



1 The notion of its turning literally on its back to seize its 

 prey is apocryphal. 



