236 
BLUE SHARK. 
overboard, an inflated portion of it was observed 
bobbing up and down in the water, not far from the 
vessel; one of the Krumcn tliinking it might be a 
delicate fish for his frying-pan, went in a boat to 
examine it, and put out the oar to lift it from the 
water, vdien to his astonishment, a large shark sud- 
denly laid hold of the blade and nearly dragged him 
overboard. In a short time a well-baited hook was 
over the ship’s side, which was immediately swallowed, 
and to the delight of all our sailors, the monster was 
captured. It proved to be a blue shark , — Squalus 
glaucus , — not above ten feet long, but of enormous 
capacity in the jaws, which were upwards of twenty 
inches in diameter, and just such a fellow as might be 
supposed to have swallowed the Port Royal soldier, 
musket and all.” There were three rows of serrated 
triangular teeth, some of which had been recently 
broken, probably in the mistaken attack on the oar. 
The bronchial openings, five in number, were near the 
strong falciform pectoral fins. The tail was particu- 
larly powerful, especially the upper lobe. The back 
and upper part of the body Avere covered with skin of 
a deep slate colour, and of a rough granulated texture, 
the belly and sides whitish. Even after having been 
some time out of its proper element, it continued to 
snap when anything approached. 
There were several large reraorm or sucking fish, 
adherent by the exhausting power of the muscular 
lamiucC or plates on the upper part of their heads. 
