380 REPORT OF THE 



individual measuring 10 feet 2 inches, which was taken in the harbor of New York 

 in October, 1840. He also had a small example, taken 16 years before near the 

 Lightship off Sandy Hook. This shark is quite common in Vineyard Sound and 

 Buzzar4s Bay. It is most numerous in those waters in fall, remaining until the end 

 of November. The range of the shark is from Cape Cod to the West Indies. 



15. Porbeagle {Lainna corniibica Gmelin). 



The Porbeagle is a very large pelagic shark, reaching the length of 10 feet, and 

 inhabits the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans. It is occasionally taken on 

 the coast of New England and southward. It is not rare in California, and is 

 rather common in Shellikoff Strait, Alaska, where it preys upon the Pacific salmon ; 

 numerous individuals have been captured in salmon seines on the western shores 

 of Kadiak Island. 



A young individual about 3^ feet long, was caught in a gillnet at Southampton 

 in July, il 



16. Great White Shark {Carcharodon carcharias Linnaeus). 



The Man-eater Shark is one of the largest of the sharks, reaching a length of 30 

 feet. It occurs in all temperate and tropical seas, and is occasionally taken both on 

 the Atlantic and Pacific coast. Jordan and Evermann mention an example caught 

 near Soquel, California, which was about 30 feet long, and had in its stomach a 

 young sea lion weighing about 100 pounds. Around Cape Cod this shark is I'are. 

 It was reported by Prof. Baird in 1871, and several specimens have been sent 

 from Woods Hole. 



Family CETORHINIDiE. Basking Sharks. 



17. Basking Shark [Cetorliinns niaximus Gunne/). 



The Basking Shark was described by Mitchill in 181 5, and also by DeKay in 

 1842. In 1822 an individual was captured in the lower harbor of New York, and 

 afterwards described by Le Sueur. The Basking Shark, according to DeKay, has 

 obtained its popular name from its habit of basking, or remaining quiet for a length 

 of time in one place. He further states that the fish is sluggish and inert and not 

 ferocious. This shark, known also as Bone Shark and Elephant Shark, reaches a. 

 length of nearly 40 feet ; it inhabits the Arctic seas, straying southward to Portugal, 

 Virginia and California. In the breeding season numbers swim together at ther 

 surface. The gills contain slender, long and close-set lamina. 



