64 



occurring alike off the coasts of Ireland and California. It is one of 

 the giants of the finny tribe, attaining a length of more than thirtj- 

 feet, but, spite of its size, is one of the least formidable of sharks. Its 

 teeth are very small ; showing that, like the giant cetaceans, it is not 

 adapted to prey upon large animals. Its presence on this coast was 

 not known to naturalists until Professor Jordan noted its presence 

 in Monterey Bay. The first example measured was thirty-one feet 

 in length. Since then, others have been brought or cast ashore. 



The name of Basking Shark has been given to this fish on account 

 of its lazy habit of resting upon the surface of the water, with its 

 dorsal fin exposed. 



It is occasionally harpooned in INIonterej^ Bay, and now and then 

 becomes entangled in the gill nets. The livers are utilized for oil. 



Sphyrna zygsena, Hammer-head Shark — This shark appears to 

 be tolerably abundant in Lower California, since several examples 

 were obtained there by W. I. Fisher in 187(5 and 1877, one of them 

 about fourteen feet long. An example, taken at San Pedro, was sent 

 to the Smithsonian Institute by Dr. Cooper. None of the finny 

 inhabitants of- the seas can show a more singularly shaped anterior 

 extremity than this species, which has its eyes placed at the end of 

 the transverse prolongations of the head, each of which is as broad 

 as it is long. The species occurs in all tropical and sub-tropical seas. 



Mustelns hinnulus, the Dog Shark, and Bhinotriacis henlei, also 

 called the Dog Shark, are usuallj^ about two feet and a half long, but 

 occasionally more, and are used only for bait. The former is known 

 to feed chiefly on Crustacea and small fish. Neither are on record 

 north of San Francisco. Both are Atlantic species. 



IViacis semifasciatus, Leopard Shark, Cat Shark — This species is 

 abundant in Humboldt Bay, and thence southward, and is very 

 common everywhere, frequenting sandy shores and entering lagoons 

 in summer to spawn. It attains a length of five feet, but yields- 

 hardly any oil, and thus is of no economic value. Peculiar to this 

 coast. 



Galeorhinus galeus, Tope, Oil Shark — Very abundant everywhere 

 south of San Francisco from May to August, when it enters lagoons 

 to spawn, and is taken in great numbers for the oil furnished by 

 the liver. Sequel and Monterey, and more especiall}^ Westminster 

 and Newport, near San Luis Obispo, are the places where this fishery 

 is carried on. It feeds on any other fish, but herring and similar 

 silvery fish make the best bait. It attains a length of five feet, and 

 a weight of fifty or sixty pounds, but thirty-five to forty pounds is- 

 more usual. 



From two thirds of a gallon to a gallon of oil is obtained from the 

 liver. The pectoral, dorsal, and caudal fins are cut off and sold to 

 the Chinese, at twelve and a half cents per pound, for soup fish. 



The Tope occurs in all temperate and tropical seas, as do also Gal- 

 eoeerdo tigrinns, Carcharinus glaucus, and Enlamia lamia. The second 

 of these is the Blue Shark of the British coast, and attains a length 

 of eleven feet. 



Lamna cornM^ica (Porbeagle); Isurus oxyrhyncJms — These two allied 

 species seem to be rare on this coast, j^et undoubtedly occur. Doctor 

 C. L. Anderson, of Santa Cruz, has a drawing of an example of the 

 former species taken at that place in 1879, and the jaws of another 

 specimen were procured by Professor Jordan at Wilmington. A 

 small individual of the latter species was sent from Monterey Bay- 



