THE ATLANTIC OCEAX. 203 



Another visitant, who very freely gives us much 

 of his company, is the White Shark (Carcarias vul- 

 gar^ probably the most terrific monster that cleaves 

 the waves; certainly the most hated, and at the same 

 time feared, by the sailor. The catching of fish is at 

 all times a pleasing amusement to the mariner; but to 

 catch the "Shirk," as he is called, there is a peculiar 

 avidity, in which the gratification of a deep-seated 

 hatred of the species, and vengeance for his murder- 

 ous propensities, form the leading features. When 

 taken, whether entrapped by the concealed hook, or 

 struck by the open violence of the harpoon, and 

 brought on deck, he is subjected to every indignity 

 which an insane fury can heap upon an object — beat, 

 stabbed, and kicked, and even reviled as if capable 

 of understanding language. In truth, I have never 

 seen any animal, terrestrial or aquatic, which, so to 

 speak, has "villain" written on its countenance in as 

 legible characters as the Shark. The shape of the 

 head, and the form of the mouth, opening so far be- 

 neath, are anything but prepossessing; but there is 

 a peculiar malignity in the expression of the eye, that 

 seems almost satanic, and which one can never look 

 upon without shuddering. The mouth is armed with 

 teeth of very peculiar construction ; they are trian- 

 gular in form, thin and flat, the central part, however, 

 being thicker than the edges, which are as keen as a 

 lancet, and cut into fine serratures, like a saw. In 

 very large Sharks, the teeth have been found nearly 

 two inches in breadth : they are placed in rows, 

 sometimes to the number of six, one within another, 

 lying nearly flat when not in use, but erected in a 



