leirgest white shark landed on rod and reel weighed 2,664 pounds 

 (Goadby, 1959)- Both these sharks eire strong, vigorous fighters 

 and dangerous as well; attacks on fishing boats by hooked specimens 

 are not infrequent. 



Of the 225 to 250 existing species of sharks, about 30, repre- 

 senting 9 genera, are considered as potentially dangerous to man. 

 Size, dentition, feeding habits, and aggressiveness are the principal 

 criteria for evalixating their danger. The white shark generally is 

 agreed to be the most dangerous shark. It is exceeded in size only 

 by the plankton-feediog basking shark and whale shark, possesses 

 formidable teeth, normally feeds on large prey, and is a popular 

 gamefish primarily because of its aggressive behavior. Attacks on 

 humans are well documented, either through recovery of tooth frag- 

 ments (e.g., Kean, 1944) or by various authe rticated reports and 

 descriptions by observers (Gudger, 1950; Coppleson, I958; Bini, 

 1962; and others) . A white shark was believed to have been respon- 

 sible for four deaths in a 6-day period along the coast of New Jersey 

 in 1916 (Bigelow and Schroeder, 1948). Shortly after the last attack, 

 a specimen about 7 feet long was captured and found to contain human 

 remains. 



The species of Isurus , though possessing a milder reputation 

 than Carcharodon , nevertheless have been incriminated in attacks on 

 boats, swimmers, and divers. Straughan (1958) gave a vivid account 

 of an encounter with a large mako while skin diving in Florida 

 waters. 



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