30 BLUE SHARK. 



of this tribe of fishes. An individual was caught witli a line, 

 its liver was cut out, and the bowels left hanging from the 

 body, in which state it was again thrown into the sea. But 

 it continued near the boat; and not long afterAvards it pursued, 

 and attempted to devour, a mackerel that had escaped from 

 the net. In another instance the fish was thrown overboard 

 after the head had been severed from the body; after which, 

 for a couple of hours, the body continued to use the efforts 

 of swimming in various directions — to employ the comparison 

 of a boy on board the boat — as if it were looking for its head. 

 AVhen taken into the boat a large Shark may still prove a 

 formidable enemy, by lashing with its tail in all directions; 

 but the chopping off of this organ presently removes the danger. 

 There is, however, another mode of proceeding, which may be 

 more conveniently and effectually practised, even before it is 

 lifted into the boat. The olfactory nerve, which is tlie largest 

 in the body, is so stunned by a blow on the snout, that for 

 a time the creature is entirely disabled; although indeed con- 

 tinued immersion in the sea will again restore the possession 

 of its energies. A Shark of very large size, that was making 

 great resistance, was speedily disabled by having its tail laid 

 hold of, and lifted high out of water, while the head and 

 u])per parts remained immersed. 



Tliis species does not produce its young during the time it 

 is on our coast, and in only one instance have I found eggs 

 in its body. We may therefore conclude that its fecundity is 

 between the time of its leaving our seas in the autumn, and 

 its return in the early part of summer; but the young ones of 

 about eighteen inches or two feet in length, frequently come 

 to us with their parents. 



In regard to this point in the history of the Blue Shark, as 

 also of some others of this family, there are some remarkable 

 particulars, in which the opinions of ancient writers find little 

 favour in the judgment of modern naturalists, from the well- 

 known credulity of the former, and their proneness to j^lace a 

 wrong interpretation on even the commonest occurrences of 

 nature; but which are supported by the observations and con- 

 sequent belief of sailors of our own day. Nor are the latter 

 disposed to alter their convictions by the doubts or disbelief 

 of the scientific naturalists of the land and closet. I refer 



