SOME HARBOUR FISHES 165 



passenger, at imminent peril of tumbling into the 

 shark's jaws, leant out of one of the stern windows, 

 armed with a double-barrelled gun loaded with 

 swan shot. Up came the precious pair, looking for 

 something edible, but received instead a volley, 

 and we expected to see them roll over, but all 

 they did was to lash their tails and deliberately 

 make off. 



We persuaded the second officer to pursue 

 them, as we were convinced that one at least 

 must be mortally wounded. He reluctantly fol- 

 lowed in a very small boat, so slowly that the 

 sharks (which could be traced for some distance 

 near the surface) outstripped him and disappeared. 

 The rifle bullet had probably been deflected, and 

 the swan shot had failed to penetrate the tough 

 skin. 



We afterwards heard that this was the only pair 

 of sharks in the harbour, over whose finny inmates 

 they reigned supreme. They were well known, 

 were almost tame, and were allowed to go un- 

 molested because of their value as scavengers. 

 They each had a special soubriquet; and, indeed, 

 I am not sure that the priest had not solemnly 

 blessed them ! 



At 3 p.m. we weighed anchor and left the 

 harbour. 



