Girls Battle With Savage Shark

[Ken Jones]

Girls Battle With Savage Shark
Man-Eating Monster, After Hour’s Battle, Captured by Two Fair Heroines​

Richmond, Aug. 15.—Battling for almost an hour with a seven-foot shark of the man-eating variety two Richmond girls yesterday afternoon captured their prize off the wharf of the Richmond Navigation Company. The girls were Miss Marguerite Lauritzen, daughter of Captain H. P. Lauritzen, head of the navigation company, and Miss Gladys Pratt, who is visiting at the Lauritzen home. The fish, after being exhibited for several hours on Washington Avenue, was later tethered by a line to the wharf, where it may be viewed by curious visitors.

Miss Lauritzen and Miss Pratt watched the huge fish for several hours before they made up their minds to capture it. They then secured two large hooks, which they spliced to long poles. The torment then commenced. Finally one of the young women managed to hook the shark in the gill, and they almost landed it when the splicing broke and the hook was released.

The fish then dived out of sight, but soon reappeared. With a quick and steady jab one of the hooks was thrust into the side of the shark about a foot below its side fin. The combined strength of the two young women was required to land the fish, which struggled for its freedom. Without enlisting the aid of anyone, however, they finally brought the monster to the wharf.

Captain Lauritzen was then informed of the catch. When he viewed the fish he almost collapsed. Loading it onto a large auto truck, he carried it into the city, where he had it weighed. The fish, which is apparently about ten years old, tipped the beam at 149 pounds. It measures seven feet and three inches in length.

Both Miss Lauritzen and Miss Pratt are justly proud of the feat, for real man-eating sharks are very seldom seen in this section of the bay, and are but seldom captured.

—Oakland Tribune, August 15, 1914

 

[eekamouse]

I am guessing the Lauritzen Channel near the Port of Richmond is named after the Captain? I believe this body of water is still the most polluted area in the entire bay. Nobody should eat any fish caught from it, though I see families do it all the time, mainly smelt.

 

[Ken Jones]

I'm pretty sure you are right. A hundred years ago it was polluted in other ways, today it is the remnants of the various chemicals used by industry over the years. And unfortunately, we can tell peope all the time and post signs throughout the area about unsafe fish to eat but some simply do not care.