Monday, Dec 5 JAWS continued... July, 4th articled

Giant killer shark caught by local fishermen

AMITY - The shark responsible for the deaths of two local residents, 17-year-old Christine Watson and 10-year-old Alex Kitner, was caught by local fishermen this morning, ending the search for the beast that terrorized the waters.

The shark was caught one mile south-southwest and killed shortly after its capture by lead fisherman Mike Swenson of Medford, Mass.

Swenson will receive the $3,000 bounty for his "heroic and selfless efforts," according to Police Chief Martin Brody.

After the shark was brought ashore, it was inspected by marine biologist Matt Hooper from the Oceanographic Institute in Woods Hole, Mass.

Hooper, one of the world's foremost experts on sharks, identified the shark as a nurse shark, known for being one of the most brutal and dangerous of all sharks. Nurse sharks have been responsible for hundreds of swimmers' deaths along the East Coast of the United States.

All of the beaches were reopened immediately, and in a press release from Brody, he explained that he urges residents "to recreate at the beaches in order to encourage the participation of all our visitors in the wonderful water sports," adding that beach-goers should "swim and have fun!"

Brody added that islanders and guests should not be alarmed by the presence of shark spotters from various organizations including the Coast Guard, the Marine Patrol, the Massachusetts State Police, and the U.S. Navy, among others. They are merely a safey precaution in order to put visitors to the island at ease.

At midday, the beaches were crowded with guests and residents who were hesitant to enter the water after the recent incidents, but shortly after a family of five went in, the waters soon became crowded as well.

Two 12-year-old boys and residents of Amity, however, Wayne Winston and Brad Kaplan, were found wearing large fins in the water so as to scare swimmers. Although their prank caused swimmers to panic and leave the water, no serious injuries resulted from the incident.

The two boys were remanded to the custody of their parents.

Furthermore, any shark sightings should be reported to the proper authorities at 1-800-sharksee.

Monday, Dec 5 In class exercise - JAWS SECOND DAY STORY

Bounty offered for shark that killed two Amity Village residents

AMITY – A $3,000 bounty was offered last night by Marion Kitner at an emergency meeting called by Mayor Larry Vaughan and Police Chief Martin Brody for the capture and killing of the shark that has claimed two victims in less than 48 hours.

The first victim, 17-year-old Christine Watson was killed Sunday night while swimming at a remote section of South Beach, and the second victim, 10-year-old Alex Kitner, was killed while floating on a rubber raft at Village Beach. 

The bounty Kitner’s mother offered was told to those in attendance at the meeting. A sign outside the meeting hall read "$3,000 bounty to the man or men who catch and kill the shark that killed."

Townsfolk, motel owners, fishermen, and others gathered at the meeting to discuss safety measures for the coming days as well as the bounty and the possible closing of the town beaches.

Police Chief Martin Brody announced that the beaches would be closed because of the attacks and that specialists would be coming to the island to assist in the search and capture of the shark.

When asked how long the beaches would remain closed, Vaughan explained they would only be closed for 24 hours.

Brody appeared shocked at the 24 hour limit for safety reasons but was unable to comment on the matter, while one woman exclaimed, “Twenty-four hours is like 3 weeks on this island!”

Before the meeting adjourned, professional shark hunter Ben Quint entered the meeting, getting the attention of the arguing crowd by scratching his nails against the chalkboard in the back of the room.

“This shark will swallow you whole,” Quint said, explaining that he could catch the shark and kill it, but he valued his life for more than $3,000 dollars, asking instead for a $10,000 bounty.

The mayor and selectmen, after speaking with Mrs. Kitner, agreed to increase the bounty to $10,000, explaining they would come up with the extra $7,000 necessary to do so.

Jaws Sidebar (due by Dec. 5)

Shark attacks unlikely in N.H. after tragedy in New England coastal town

By Cady Kolnaski

DURHAM – When N.H. native Marissa Correll drives to Hampton Beach for her morning swim, the fear of sharks never crosses her mind.

“In the summer I swim in the ocean for about 30 minutes every morning. I’m usually the only one in the water and at the beach that early, but I’ve never seen a shark or worried about seeing one,” Correll explained.

Correll is like many other seacoast residents with regards to sharks, and there might be reason for that.

Even in the wake of the tragedy in the seacoast town of Amity Village, where two individuals were mauled and killed by a vicious, unprovoked great white shark, N.H. residents should not fear swimming in local waters.

According to Doug Grout, the N.H. Fish and Game Marine Fisheries Division Chief, “it is highly unlikely there will be any shark attacks in N.H. in summers to come.”

Grout, who has worked in marine biology for over 30 years, explained that the sharks that can be dangerous to humans “simply don’t come this far north.”

In fact, there have been no reported sightings or attacks in N.H. history, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology website.

Before this summer, the last fatal shark attack reported in all of New England was in 1936 in Mass., thus showing how rare attacks are.

Grout added that there are sharks further off-shore, but they aren’t the types of sharks that harm humans and they never come close to shore.

“The water close to shore is oftentimes colder because of prevailing winds,” he said, adding that “that keeps the sharks away.”

Even after the tragic deaths due to shark attacks in Amity this summer, it is safe to say that N.H. residents need not worry about sharks this summer or in future summers.

Sources:

(603) 868-1095 NH Fish and Game

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/statistics/GAttack/mapusa.htm