CATCHING A SHARK. 



for the other." With these sentiments the mate ended his 

 tale, and I now proceed with the narrative of the voyage. 



While near the line, we caught a shark, which was the 

 first animal bigger than a hare that I had ever assisted in 

 destroying. As the method employed on this fellow was of 

 a more sporting character than usually attends the capture 

 of this monster, I will give in detail our proceedings. 



Our voracious friend having been seen some hundred 

 yards astern steadily following in our wake, we procured 

 two joints of a lightning-conductor (that had lain in the 

 hold since our leaving England, and which was intended 

 to protect the ship from the fluid that makes so excellent 

 a messenger but so direful an enemy), and lashed a large 

 hook on to one end. The copper wire was stout enough 

 to resist the teeth of the monster, and a common log-line 

 was made fast to the wire, with a second line in case of 

 his requiring much play. Over the stern went the hook, 

 baited with a most tempting piece of pork ; the ship was 

 just moving through the water at the time, the whole 

 sea looking like a vast lake of molten silver. 



We watched our cannibal as the bait came near him ; 

 he did not keep us long in doubt, but with a rush put 

 his nose against the pork, pronounced it good, turned 

 on his side, and both pork and hook disappeared. We 

 gave a smart tug at the line, and found him fast. 



I expected a tremendous trout-like rush, or some great 

 display of shark force ; but he merely gave a wag of his 

 tail, lowered his dorsal fin under water, and steadily 

 dragged back on the line. We met him with a firm 

 pull, and brought him near the ship, when he made a 



