Big Sharks as Game 



another proposition. The size of the jaw and the 

 complete equipment of porcelain-like teeth were the 

 incentives, and it was decided to attempt it. The 

 man-eater was triced up to the bow, and would have 

 to be transferred to the stern to tow. During our 

 attempt to accomplish this it turned the tables on us 

 and almost swamped the boat. 



All this time the line had not been lifted from 

 the slot in the bow, and it was necessary to do this 

 with dispatch and transfer it to the scull-hole in the 

 stern without giving the shark any slack or oppor- 

 tunity to break away. The moment was selected 

 after a paroxysm of whirling and rolling, which, 

 thanks to the freedom given by the swivel hook, it 

 could do. My companion placed the line in the stern, 

 and at the word I released the chain, sprang to the 

 stern, and hauled with him; but the shark, feeling 

 itself apparently free, dived beneath the boat. It 

 had perhaps eight feet of line, and jerked the stern 

 down with so much force that the boat was again 

 a third full before the line could be slacked away. 

 We held on, and within fifty feet stopped the shark 

 and held it until the boat was bailed out. Then, 

 again, began the work of hauling in, this time up to 

 the stern. When within ten feet of the latter the 

 shark began to swim doggedly along, heading up the 

 channel; and in this position we sat, holding the line 

 while our huge steed towed us within half a mile of 

 the point from' which we had started, where, after 



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