Jaws pt 3

The killer shark believed to be responsible for the deaths of two local swimmers has been caught and killed by a group of nearby fishermen.

The shark was captured only one mile southwest of Amity and was brought ashore, where renowned shark expert Matt Hooper, marine biologist fromm the Woods Hole, Ma., Oceanographic Institute, inspected the animal and determined it to be a nurse shark, which are among the most brutal and deadly species of sharks and are responsible for hundreds of fatal attacks along the east coast.

Police Chief Martin Brody announced the reopening of local beaches for the upcoming holiday, and encouraged locals to swim and have fun.
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While shark spotters from the Coast Guard, Marine Patrol, Massachusetts State Police, U.S Navy, and the FBI among others remain in the area,  Brody assured swimmers that their presence is merely a safety precaution, and that the waters are now safe for swimmers.

Don’t reach for those swim-trunks just yet—local Amity residents would be ill-advised to tread the waters of local beaches after two bloody incidents that authorities now believe may be shark-related.

In the wake of a fatal attack on Alex Kintner, 10, leaving only a bloodsoaked raft bearing large bite marks, concerned Amity residents are now scrambling for answers as to whether or not a shark is to blame for the event as well as the recent death of Chrissy Watkins, 17, at another nearby beach.

Amity Chief of Police Martin Brody announced plans to close the town’s beaches on July 4^th to avoid any further attacks at a recent meeting with the Amity Board of Selectmen. Mayor Larry Vaughn interjected, saying that the beaches would remain closed for a maximum of 24 hours. A small crowd of concerned townspeople were also present, including mother of recent attack victim, Marion Kintner, who announced her family’s offer of a $3,000 bounty to anyone who is able to catch and kill the attacker responsible.

Local fisherman Quint was able to silence the frantic chatter of the meeting’s attendees and make his presence known with the screeching of his fingernails across a chalkboard in the back of the room. Quint continued to express his certainty that a shark is to blame for the attacks, upping the ante to $10,000 for the capture of the beast.

Jaws Sidebar

*DISCLAIMER- Okay, like Charlie, I too emailed two experts from the UNH Marine Science program, neither of whom got back to me in time, so I borrowed a source from Fosters (http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120715/GJNEWS_01/707159912)
I hate to do it this way, but desperate times call for desperate measures.


Despite the recent Amity Island shark attacks resulting in the deaths of two swimmers, New Hampshire beach-goers have nothing to worry about.

Last week, Chrissy Watson, 17, and Alex Kint, 10, both of Amity, were brutally killed in what police determined were shark attacks. The events stirred a panic in beach-goers across New England, but local shark experts are assuring that New England waters remain safe, as the majority of the local shark population is made up of non-violent Blue Sharks. According to Tony LaCasse, spokesperson for the New England Aquarium, the commonly-feared Great White Shark is usually found only south of Cape Cod thanks to the Granite State's differing geography and relatively low seal population.

"Blue sharks are the most common large shark in New England waters," said LaCasse. "Shark density in New England and shark encounters in New England are really low compared to the rest of the country. But there are sharks there all the time, but they're generally off shore."

There have been 5 unprovoked shark attacks in New England since 1670, according to the International Shark Attack File, none of which were attributed to Blue Sharks.

While New Hampshire shark encounters may be rare, LaCasse encourages swimmers to remain cautious and alert, and to flee the scene in the case of a potential attack.

"When there's a shark presence people should still be getting out of the water," he said. "It's about being prudent and cautious. It's like any large wildlife and we need to closely monitor those kinds of animals."