THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. 203 
Another visitant, who very freely gives us much 
of his company, is the White Shark (Carcarias vul- 
garis), probably the most terrific monster that cleaves 
the waves; certainly the most hated, and at the same 
time feared, by the sailor. The catching of fish is at 
all times a pleasing amusement to the mariner; but to 
catch the “Shirk,” as he is called, there is a peculiar 
avidity, in which the gratification of a deep-seated 
hatred of the species, and vengeance for his murder- 
ous propensities, form the leading features. When 
taken, whether entrapped by the concealed hook, or 
struck by the open violence of the harpoon, and 
brought on deck, he is subjected to every indignity 
which an insane fury can heap upon an object—beat, 
stabbed, and kicked, and even. reviled as if capable 
of understanding language. In truth, I have never 
seen any animal, terrestrial or aquatic, which, so to 
speak, has “villain” written on its countenance in as 
legible characters as the Shark. The shape of the 
head, and the form of the mouth, opening so far be- 
neath, are anything but prepossessing; but there is 
a peculiar malignity in the expression of the eye, that 
seems almost satanic, and which one can never look 
upon without shuddering. The mouth is armed with 
teeth of very peculiar construction; they are trian- 
gular in form, thin and flat, the central part, however, 
being thicker than the edges, which are as keen as a 
lancet, and cut into fine serratures, like a saw. In 
‘very large Sharks, the teeth have been found nearly 
two inches in breadth: they are placed in rows, 
sometimes to the number of six, one within another, 
lying nearly flat when not in use, but erected in a 
