30 
BLUE SHARK. 
of this tribe of fishes. Aa individual was caught with a line, 
its liver was cut out, and the bowels left hanging from the 
body, in which state it was again thrown into the sea. But 
it continued near the boat; and not long afterwards it pursued, 
and attempted to devour, a mackerel that had escaped from 
the net. In another instance the fish was thrown overboard 
after the head had been severed from the body; after which, 
for a couple of hours, the body continued to use the efforts 
of swimming in various directions — to employ the comparison 
of a boy on board the boat — as if it were looking for its head. 
When taken into the boat a large Shark may still prove a 
formidable enemy, by lashing with its tail in all directions; 
but the chopping off of this organ presently removes the danger. 
There is, however, another mode of proceeding, which may be 
more conveniently and effectually practised, even before it is 
lifted into the boat. The olfactory nerve, which is the largest 
in the body, is so stunned by a blow on the snout, that for 
a time the creatui-e is entirely disabled; although indeed con- 
tinued immersion in the sea will again restore the possession 
of its energies. A Shark of very large size, that was making 
great resistance, was speedily disabled by having its tail laid 
hold of, and lifted high out of water, while the head and 
upper parts remained immersed. 
This species does not produce its young during the time it 
is on our coast, and in only one instance have I found eggs 
in its body. We may therefore conclude that its fecundity is 
between the time of its leaving our seas in the autumn, and 
its return in the early part of summer; but the young ones of 
about eighteen inches or two feet in length, frequently come 
to us with their parents. 
In regard to this point in the history of the Blue Shark, as 
also of some others of this family, there are some remarkable 
particuhus, in which the opinions of ancient writers find little 
favour in the judgment of modern naturalists, from the well- 
known credulity of the former, and their proneness to place a 
wrong interpretation on even the commonest occurrences of 
nature; but which arc supported by the observations and con- 
sequent belief of sailors of our own day. Nor are the latter 
disposed to alter their convictions by the doubts or disbelief 
of the scientific naturalists of the land and closet. I refer 
