172 Recreations of a Sportsman 



ming about the boat again, as ugly and menacing 

 a creature as can be imagined. In a boat near by 

 two men were fishing, and as they caught a fish 

 it was fastened to a string and tossed over. This 

 is what had attracted the hammerhead, who now 

 attempted to take the fish, so frightening the 

 men by its boldness that they lay down in the 

 boat not to show themselves ; then tried to shoot 

 it as it passed. 



Becoming interested, I determined to catch 

 this shark. Frightened possibly by the bullets 

 fired at it, it turned toward the bay of Avalon 

 and I followed it in, went ashore, got a rope 

 shark line and chain hook, secured the ser- 

 vices of a friend to row, and put out, to find 

 that the shark had succeeded in stealing a 

 string of fish from another boat and was being 

 followed by a number of boats. It continued 

 moving about among them, its big dorsal fin 

 waving, a good illustration of bulldog serenity 

 and utter disdain of human enemies. I baited 

 my line with a yellowtail and went out some dis- 

 tance, placing myself in the course of the shark. 

 As it came on I cast the ponderous bait, which 

 I had floated, Florida fashion, with a piece of 

 wood. The shark caught the scent, disappeared, 

 and in a few seconds I hooked it. 



This time the game woke up, making a rush 

 which was irresistible, going out to sea. Nearly 

 an hour slipped away, if memory serves me, be- 



