White Shark, Carcharodon carcharias

Plate 74. The White Shark, Carcharodon rondeletti (now known as the White Pointer, Carcharodon carcharias) found in Brighton Beach Baths

This gigantic Shark is by far the largest and most formidable of those approaching our shores, one specimen in the Museum being thirteen feet three inches long, and another between fifteen and sixteen feet long, and some having been killed upwards of thirty feet long. Our two specimens were caught, one in July, 1873, and one in April, 1877, in Hobson's Bay, near Brighton. The larger had been observed for several days swimming round the ladies' baths, looking in though the picket fence in such a disagreeable manner that the station master had a strong hook and iron chain made so as to keep the rope out of reach of his teeth, and this, being baited with a large piece of pork, made to look as much like a piece of a lady as possible, was swallowed greedily; and then, with the aid of a crowd of helpers, the monster was got on shore. On opening the stomach, amongst a load of partially digested objects, a large Newfoundland dog was found, with his collar on, identifying him as one lost the day before, no doubt swallowed when enjoying a swim in the comparatively shallow water in which the Shark was repeatedly seen and at last caught.

Dr. Günter has suggested the name "Great Blue Shark" for the present species, but as its colour is not strikingly blue, but rather whitish, the old English name of "White Shark" had perhaps better be adhered to, although no doubt, as Duméril complains, more than one species seem to have been confounded by English writers, and sailors in many waters, under this name. The present fish, however, has the best claim to the name, and is probably also the Carcharias of the old Greek writers. There can be no doubt that our fish, here figured, is the same as the terrible "White Shark" sometimes found on the English coasts, and more common in the West Indies; probably the most dreaded by sailors of all Sharks from its great size, strength, and ferocity. The fearful armature of the mouth with rows of great triangular serrated teeth renders any wound fatal; and the size, even in our waters, is often so great that a man could be swallowed whole with ease, as Capt. King mentions in his Survey of Australia; Blumenbach, the famous anatomist, who was a perfectly trustworthy authority, mentions a whole horse being found in one. When fishermen are drawing their nets full of fish, this Shark will swim along, giving every now and then a half-turn and biting out a large mouthful of fishes and net, and swallowing them together. It was from representations by fishermen and their friends of the damage done to them and the destruction of fish, as well as danger to bathers when these fish and the great Bull Shark or Shovel-nosed Shark (Odontaspis taurus) appeared, that the Government was induced to place large sums on the Estimates for their destruction; paying by measurement for hundreds of the harmless blunt-toothed Smooth, Picked Dog-fish, and the other small Sharks, as the young of these monsters.