Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 March 1891 — SHARKS TORTURED TO DEATH. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

SHARKS TORTURED TO DEATH.

Galveston Fishermen Catch and Fasten Them to a Log. “The people of Galveston hate sharks more than poison, and you would think so, too, if you saw the numerous logs of wood bobbing up and down in the

bay there,” said Hilbert E. .Tames, a hardware merchant from the Texas metropolis. “The sharks in the bay of Galveston are about three feet long,” continued Mr. James, “and spoil the good fishing, or what would be good fishing, by eating or scaring to death about ail the fish in the bay. This so provokes the fishermen that they go out in parties and catch all the sharks they can. They never kill one immediately, but bore a hole through the upper fin of each one and with a piece of rope about three feet long tie Mr. Shark to a log of wood heavy enough to keep him from going far from the surface of the water. The unwelcome occupant of the bay is kept a prisoner until he becomes so hungry he turns his stomach skyward. The fish in that way is tortured to death, and it is hoped that other members of the tribe will take warning and give the Bay of Galveston a w'ide berth. “No, the Humane Society doesn’t disturb itself about the slow death that is dealt out to the sharks. Everybody takes part in the good work. I have seen at one time as many as forty logs being dragged around by the captives. Some of the bobbers were tearing over the bay at a terrible rate, while others would scarcely move, so near death were they. As soon as a shark dies the corpse is relieved of its log and rope, which are used to torture another intruder.”

SHARK FASTENED TO A BOBBER