Dear Andy
I believe that the report you refer to concerns an incident which occurred
in (I think) 1937 off Carradale in Argyll.
A small sailing boat was fishing for mackerel
and watching breaching sharks
in calm weather, when a breaching shark capsized their boat drowning
three
of them. One adult and two children, I believe.
The incidient had to be pieced together afterwards, when an examination
of
their craft revealed abrasions and mucus on the side and gunwale, and
it
would appear that the shark hit them on the "way up" if you see what
I
mean. This incident was reported in Anthony Watkins' book, "The sea
my
hunting ground". Watkins was the most successful of the Scottish shark
hunters, and the book is a good read- hard to find though. Also a piece
(I
think) in the most recent "Basking shark in Scotland".
I have had several near misses with breaching baskers, in the last three
years. One breached beside us, so close that water went all over the
decks,
and another last year came out of the water less than one boat length
ahed
of us, heading straight at us! More than a little thought provoking,
and we
are very careful when around breaching sharks, because, unlike ceatceans,
they breach in what appears to be a totally random manner.
The most recent report I heaard of was from a Newlyn fisherman, who
told me
that his next door neighbour, also a fisherman, had one breach beside
him,
landing in the stern of his boat, breaking off the mizzen mast, plus
a
little other damage.
Moral - beware of flying sharks.
Best wishes
Colin----------
From: Andy Horton <Glaucus@hotmail.com>
To: Colin Speedie <colin.speedie@btinternet.com>
My File: 00374
Date: 01 September 1937
"EAGLE" Boat
CARRADALE BAY, KINTYRE, FIRTH OF CLYDE, SCOTLAND.
UK.
BASKING SHARK
FISHING
FATAL: 3 DROWNED. A.BROWN, R.BROWN, N.BROWN (10).
SHARK LEAPT OUT OF THE
WATER AND SANK BOAT. 2 OTHERS SURVIVED.
SHARKMAN
icq: 24401111
Sharkman's World
http://www.sharkmans-world.com
Sender: sharkman@orbit.net.mt