Experiments in Sea Angling 173 



fore I stopped the shark, and then the skiff was 

 two miles from shore. Repeatedly I brought the 

 game up and was forced to let go as the boat 

 was jerked to the very water's edge, and it should 

 be remembered that I was fighting the shark from 

 the broad, flat stern of a frail boat, my com- 

 panion coiling the line between my feet as I 

 gained it. Exactly how long we fought this 

 powerful shark I do not know ; but its strength, 

 endurance, and savage methods made a lasting 

 impression on my mind. Whether we could have 

 brought it in is a question. The wind came up 

 and it was dangerous to make the line fast, as 

 a single slip over the side of the boat would have 

 meant a capsize, and my companion could not 

 row against the shark. It was not until four 

 or five following boats had made fast to us, all 

 rowing, that we stopped it; then I brought it 

 to the surface, caught the chain and held it, got 

 a turn of rope about the ugly head and gave the 

 word, and the five skiffs began to move inshore, 

 towing us. 



When the beach was reached the line was 

 passed ashore, and it required ten or more men 

 to drag the struggling animal up onto the sands, 

 where it threshed about, the black remoras still 

 clinging to it, its cavernous mouth snapping like 

 the animated trap it was, row after row of teeth 

 opening and shutting in convulsive rage, while 

 the air was filled with the peculiar musky odor 



