Gawkers peer at great white marooned in shallows off Cape Cod

Tribune Newspapers ^ | Thu, Sep 30, 2004 | Elizabeth Mehren

[presidio9]

Back and forth, back and forth: It was almost as if the great white shark was pacing, swimming the same small circle over and over.

"Territorial loops," said Matt Lundberg, a fisherman who has cashed in as an aquatic tour guide ever since the 14-foot creature showed up in shallow water here last week.

The 1,700-pound female--her gender identified by her dorsal fin--swam into an estuary off Naushon Island, about 3 miles from this Cape Cod village. Marine scientists believe she drifted too close to shore and became stuck in the 20-foot-deep lagoon.

The area is rich in striped bass, bluefish and other sea life to keep the shark well fed. But marine scientists suspect she is disoriented and unable to return to the open ocean. She appears to be healthy.

Soon after the shark was sighted, a state biologist used a pole to insert a recording device in her fin. The mechanism will measure water temperature and light levels until April, when it will detach from the fin and beam its information to marine scientists.

Dan McKiernan, deputy director of the state division of marine fisheries, said Monday that the instrument would help track the shark's travels.

High tides associated with the full moon Tuesday could allow the shark to escape from the lagoon, McKiernan said.

"In the past few years, there have been occasional sightings in the Gulf of Maine," he said, "but it is very uncommon to see a great white shark in this region."

[presidio9]

A 15-foot great white shark swims in shallow waters off Cape Cod near Falmouth, Mass., Saturday, Sept. 25, 2004. Researchers put a satellite tracking device on the shark Thursday, the first time a great white has been tagged that way in the Atlantic. The shark was first spotted Tuesday, and officials hope it can return to open water on its own. Otherwise, researchers may try to drive it there, said Gregory Skomal, a shark specialist with the state's marine fisheries division. (AP Photo/Mass Division ofMarine Fisheries, John Chisholm)

I know a taxidermy man back home. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him.

[RushCrush]

For a second there I thought it was Teddy Kennedy.

[Gorzaloon]

"Back and forth, back and forth: It was almost as if the great Senator was pacing, swimming the same small circle over and over, looking for Mary Jo. "

[lormand]

Did someone say something about a washed up whale?

The pic is of Teddy Kennedy BTW.

[Chummy]

"Back and forth, back and forth: It was almost as if the great white shark was pacing, swimming the same small circle over and over...."

What a metaphor for the Kerry campaign, save that he's not so great and he's really quite orange now.

[TXBSAFH]

Paging Chief Brody, Paging Chief Brody, please pick up the white courtesy phone.

[cavtrooper21]

Guess the old swimmin' hole is closed for the duration, eh...

[marktuoni]

Dan McKiernan, deputy director of the state division of marine fisheries, said Monday that the instrument would help track the shark's travels.

Love to prove that wouldn't ya? Get your name into the National Geographic!

[marineguy]

I'm truly glad this pic got cut off on the left.

[hispanarepublicana]

Who you gonna call?

[presidio9]

Jaws movie line quoter from way back!

Hey chieffie, next time you just ask me which line to pull, right?

[Don Simmons]

Looks like a nice place for kerry to go windsurfing.

Hey - a guy can dream!

[Centurion2000]

Just shoot and eat the damned thing ... oh wait ... this is Mass. no guns allowed.

[lormand]

Art Van Delay?

I thought he was an architect, not a Marine Biologist :)

[OldFriend]

Your #5..........AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[Mark in the Old South]

You are worse than Ms England in a Iraqi prison. Put that camera away before you hurt somebody.


BTW you owe me lunch I just lost mine.

[The Hollywood Conservative]

Hey... Teddy... "YOU'RE GONNA NEED A BIGGER BOAT!"

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

We'll need a bigger boat.

[LoneConservative]

Farewell and adieu to you fair Spanish ladies
Farewell and adieu to you ladies of Spain
For we've received orders for to sail back to Boston
And So nevermore will we see you again...

JAWS Trivia...
Who Broke Hooper's heart???

LC