no The Shark 



whaleboats, and all of them were tearing at the body 

 as if they had fasted for years and their first meal was 

 now about to be taken from them. It had only been 

 at their mercy for about eight hours ; and it was half 

 gone ; that is to say, in that brief time these useful 

 sea-scavengers had eaten about thirty tons of meat, 

 blubber, and bone, and were now apparently as un- 

 satisfied as ever. We started to tow, feeling that it 

 was hardly worth while, and accompanied by an 

 uncountable horde of the devourers, but after towing 

 for an hour were compelled to let go, because we were 

 drifting on to a reef. And I was right glad. I felt 

 sure that by the time we arrived at the ship — another 

 six or eight hours — we should have had only our labour 

 for our pains. 



A whole wealth of literature lies in the discussion 

 of the Raiiae, those homely, shark-like creatures whose 

 flesh is so highly esteemed by the London poor, where 

 fried skate is a morsel to be delighted in when served 

 up in penn'orths with crisp fried potatoes. The terrible 

 Sting Ray of tropical seas, whose tail is a flexible rod 

 set with razor blades secured diagonally, and is used 

 as an instrument of correction by the South-sea trader 

 upon his wives,* and the no less terrible Alligator 

 Guard of the Mexican Gulf, a fearsome monster some 

 sixty square feet in area and with a peculiar twist 

 for leaping out of the water after dark. One hardly 

 knows where to draw the line in dealing with this 

 extraordinary family of universal rangers of the deep 

 sea ; the feeling will force itself in that not a chapter 

 or so is needed, but a whole volume each, to describe 

 the beings and doings of one fish family. 



I dismiss as utterly unworthy of any notice what- 

 ever all the stories that have been told of the Shark's 

 ' Vide Louis Becke, By R$et and Palm, 



