NATURAL HISTORY. 15 
Munchausen. Such is, however, the fact ; and my 
own rod has accounted for a good many small 
blue sharks down in Cornwall, pigmies of twenty 
and thirty pounds, but quite enough to demoralise 
your top joint. The boldness of these small sharks 
is amazing. On one occasion this summer, a 
couple of blue sharks were swimming around my 
boat only a foot or two beneath the surface, and 
we persuaded the smaller to seize a pilchard on 
a conger hook. An attempt to gaff it failed, the 
gaff striking the shark, but coming away. The 
brute seized the bait again, however, and was then 
gaffed and killed. Mr. Frederic’s kodak snap of 
its capture is reproduced on a later page. Of 
its kind, and viewed apart from the foolish pre- 
judice that attaches to these useful scavengers, the 
blue shark is a handsome fish, its form tapering 
gracefully, and the contrast between the steely blue 
of the back and the silvery white of the belly giving 
it a striking appearance both in and out of the water. 
Its most objectionable feature from the angler’s 
point of view, apart from its untiring raids on the 
lines, is the sickly smell of its blood, an odour as of 
bilge-water, which it shares with many others of its 
family. Care should therefore be taken not to spill 
any of the blood on the boards of the boat; for the 
odour clings to the wood for days, and is very trying 
to any one inclined to resent such influences when 
on the water. The shark is killed, if possible, over 
the side, a blow on the shovel-shaped snout being 
effective if properly delivered, and is then slung 
over the stern, a bight of line being passed over its 
tail. It makes excellent bait for the crab-pots, 
and should always be kept for the crabbers ashore, 
who often have the good taste to remember such 
