A FEROCIOUS SHARK.

Kumara Times, Issue 1057, 19 February 1880, Page 3

A FEROCIOUS SHARK.

Instances have been known hitherto of sharks attacking; boats, but few cases (says the Sydney Morning Herald) have occurred showing more strikingly the ferocity and determination of these monsters than the following A fisherman named William Smith, accompanied by Mr Thomas Martin, of Woblloomoolloo, were fishing for black bream off Chowder Bay. They had their lines down about an hour without even as much as a nibble,' Smith then caught several large jewfish, but thinking there were sharks about, he baited hi& shark-line and threw it overboard. Ho had not long to wait, as suddenly the line went “ by the run a shark was hooked. After great difficulty; the monster, which proved to be 12 feet '"long, was hauled to the surface of the water, a little distance from the bow Of the boat, which, however, he no sooner saw„ than he rushed at it openmouthed, sfcized.it by the.stern and shook it terrier would a rat. Fearing the .bpgt would be capsized, Smith got ; his lance, and, as he says, -•-.“ pierced the shark through the heart,” which caused it to relinquish its hold. Nothing daunted, however, the monster returned to the attack, coming up on the sidfLof the boat bu which Mr Martin was seated. Fortunately his lower teeth struck ■ the planks low down, and bis upper jaw was thus unable to seize' the top plank. Ha<£%: succeeded"’in catching hold of the td|S plank be would most probably have it out or capsized the; boat—-

perhaps both. What would have followed in that case is left to the imagination of the reader. However, Smith succeeded in wounding him once more .with the lance, and he was then towed over to thp beach at Chowder, where he lived for over an hour after ;beirigj landed.