CHAPTER X 

 THE SHARK 



PASSING from sea mammals to fish proper is a mo- 

 mentous step, and merits a little introduction, in 

 any case. But when one must begin the fish 

 section with Sharks the introduction becomes impera- 

 tive. For the Shark is in some respects a sort of con- 

 necting link between the mammal and the fish. A true 

 fish, the Shark has yet the family or parental instinct 

 of which nearly all other fish are destitute, a notable 

 exception being the stickleback of fresh water, which 

 does love its young. Another curious characteristic 

 of the Shark family throughout its numerous branches 

 is that it has no bones. Only cartilage. From the 

 Basking Shark as big as a grampus, down to the 

 skate, not a bone among them. 



Another peculiarity of the Shark tribe is the stigma 

 attaching to them, whereby the word Shark has become 

 a synonym for a murderous thief, a creature without 

 feeling or honour or repentance. I hold no brief for 

 the Shark, but justice is justice, and certainly the Shark 

 has had meted out to him nought but injustice through- 

 out the years. Whether at this time of day it is not 

 a forlorn hope to expect justice to be done to the Shark 

 is another matter, and one upon which I express no 

 opinion. I only know that amid the many fantastic 

 Shark stories extant, based upon utter ignorance of this 

 wonderful citizen of the Deep Sea, his habits and his 



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