THE BLUE SHARK. 
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maraudings, it tries to bite the line asunder, a feat easily performed by its lancet-like teeth 
with their notched edges. 
Sometimes, however, it takes to another stratagem, and as soon as it feels the hook, rolls 
itself round so rapidly on its axis, that it winds the line round its body into a mass of inex- 
tricable entanglement. So effectually is this feat achieved, that, in spite of the value of the 
line, the fishermen have been known to give up any attempt to unravel its knotty con- 
volutions. This fish has another fashion of biting the line asunder without any apparent 
reason. 
Perhaps, however, it never is so thoroughly destructive as in the pilchard season, when it 
follows the vast shoals of these fish to the continental shores, and devours them wholesale. 
Even when they are inclosed in the net, the Blue Shark is not to be baffled or deprived of its 
expected banquet ; for, swimming along the whole length of the net, it bites at the inclosed 
fish, caring nothing for the meshes, and taking out large mouthfuls of mingled net and 
pilchards, swallows them together. 
The sailors have an idea that this voracious fish is able to succor her young, when in 
danger, by opening her mouth and letting them swim down her throat. It is undoubtedly 
true, that living young have been found in the stomach of large sharks ; but whether they 
had been swallowed as a means of protection, is by no means proved. The reader will doubt- 
lessly remember the similar stories that have been told of the viper and other poisonous 
snakes. 
The skull of a Shark shows the terrible teeth with which it is armed. They lie in several 
rows, ready to take the place of those which are broken or cast off when their work is done. 
From these teeth, which cut like broken glass, the natives of many savage lands make tools 
and weapons of war, by ingeniously fixing them into wooden handles. 
The voracity and dullness of nerve belonging to the Shark is really wonderful. One of 
my friends was fishing after a large Shark that was following the vessel, and, after a little 
time, succeeded in inducing the fish to take the great hook that had been nicely baited with 
pork to suit his palate. Too sudden a jerk, however, having been given to the line, the hook 
tore its way through the side of the cheek, setting the Shark free. The wound was a terrible 
one, and bled profusely ; but the Shark seemed to care little or nothing about it, still hovered 
about the bait, as if unable to resist its attractions, and after a little while was hooked a 
second time and hauled safely on board. 
The capture of a Shark is always an event on board ship, especially if she be a sailing- 
vessel and the wind has fallen. A hook made for the purpose is secured to a fathom or so of 
iron chain, the Shark being capable of biting through a rope in an instant, and in no way so 
particular in its diet as to need fine tackle. Indeed, as in the last-mentioned instance, the 
creature seems to be perfectly aware of the danger, but to be incapable of resisting the tempt- 
ing morsel. The other end of the chain is firmly lashed to a stout rope, and the latter secured 
to the vessel, as one rush of a powerful Shark would pull half a dozen men overboard. 
All things being ready, a good large piece of pork is fixed tightly on the hook, and 
allowed to tow overboard. The Shark, being to the full as inquisitive as the cat, comes up 
with true feline curiosity, and sniffs at the bait with an air of deliberate scrutiny. Some- 
times, having perhaps lately partaken of a good meal, it is very coy about taking the bait, 
and keeps the anxious anglers above in a state of tantalized impatience for an hour or more. 
Generally , however, it dashes at the bait at once, and has even been known to leap from the 
water and hook itself before the bait had even reached the surface. 
Now begins a mighty struggle, and all is eager excitement. The Shark knows no wiles, 
but uses all its great strength to tear away from the hook by sheer force, having apparently 
but slight sense of pain, and in many cases would do so were not a check put upon its efforts 
by a rope knotted into a bowline and dexterously slipped over its tail. Being now held by 
both extremities, it is shorn of its strength, like Samson without his locks, and lifted on deck 
by both lines. . Sometimes a trident-like harpoon, technically called a “grains,” the handle of 
which is heavily loaded with lead to make it fall with greater force, is dropped upon the 
struggling fish. 
