326 Fish Stories 



tribe seems to have had its origin in Bering Sea, and from 

 these waters they spread in every direction, into the streams, 

 up to the Arctic and down into the ocean depths, and there 

 are many other kinds in California. 



One of the strangest of the sharks is the little swell shark 

 of the coast of Southern California. It reaches a length of 

 about three feet, is spotted with black, like the cat sharks or 

 roussettes of southern Europe, to which fishes it bears a 

 close resemblance. 



Its head is very broad and rounded in outline. Its mouth 

 is small, with small but very sharp teeth. It lives near 

 shore, and is sluggish of movement for a shark, feeding on 

 crabs and sardines when it can get them. It has no partic- 

 ular value to anybody, not even for the oil in its liver. It 

 is mainly interesting for its trick of swelling up the body 

 like a globe fish or a porcupine fish when it is disturbed. 

 If it is irritated or frightened it comes to the surface and 

 gulps air until it is almost as round as a ball. Then it floats, 

 belly upward, on the water and is safe from all harm, so 

 far as fishes are concerned. But it offers a tempting mark 

 for the spear. And if a hole is punctured into it and the 

 air let out, it looks as foolish as a fish can look as it sneaks 

 away. 



But if it lives the next chance it has it will do the same 

 thing again. 



The thresher shark, also called fox shark and swingle- 

 tail, lives in all warm seas the world over, and being a wise 

 shark, often comes to the shores of Southern California. It 

 reaches a length of twelve to fifteen feet. Its head is small, 

 with a short nose, and its teeth are small and sharp. Its 

 most striking quality is its great length of tail, the long 

 flail-like upper lobe being almost as long as the rest of the 

 body. It is a swift shark, rather active and destructive to 

 small fishes, but it gets a good deal of credit for actions it 

 never performs. 



Sometimes a whale is seen in great agony off the coast. 



