Shark Washes Up in Queens

WNBC 4 has these pictures of a shark that washed up on Rockaway Beach. The picture of the shark is weird, because we can't tell if he's smoking a cigar or if his tongue is bloated or if it's a big sock monkey. And Gothamist likes how there's a huge crowd around the shark - we imagine lots of cameraphoning! However, we hope there aren't any more sharks in the area, because we don't like shark attack stories. At this point, Gothamist thinks this might lead all stories on the news, even beating Secretary of State Condi Rice's visit for the NYC 2012 Olympics rally, because sharks trump cabinet members.

Images from WNBC's Chopper 4

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By Jen Chung in News on June 28, 2005 5:35 PM

Comments [rss]

Matt Zito

Has anybody here read "Close To Shore" by Michael Capuzzo or "Twelve Days of Terror" by Richard Fernicola M.D.? If not you should.

It's worse then "Jaws" because it really happened.

They are both based on the true story of what Peter Benchly loosly based "Jaws" on. In 1916 in Mattawan Creek, New Jersey I think three children and one adult were attacked by what is believed to have been a bull shark.

Did you know that bull sharks are one of the three most aggressive sharks in the ocean?

The species has been spotted 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometers) up the Amazon River in South America and dwell in Lake Nicaragua, a freshwater lake in Central America. Bull sharks have traveled up the Mississippi River as far north as Illinois and are regularly spotted in India's Ganges.

S.D.

"it's actually the shark's stomach"

...

My Fault, but I really wish I read that AFTER I had my coffee and Donut...

Jen

Thanks, scazza. And Mr. Nosuch, when I first posted the story, WNBC hadn't put up a story yet - it was breaking news!

scazza

As for the sock, it's actually the shark's stomach which it had regurgitated. Watching it on the news, they'd said that there was a hook found in the shark, so it had probably been caught by a fisherman who just cut the line and let it die a slow death, instead of removing the hook. Thus, this is a story about an irresponsible and cruel fisherman, not a killer shark.

Mr. Nosuch

Just a thought, but perhaps in posts like this, you might consider linking to the article on the WNBC site instead of just linking to their main page.

Harvey The Wonder Hamster

The Shark swam too close to NY Harbor, becoming overwhelmed by the toxic tide.

Jack

"i think the same goes for lightning, but don't quote me on that."

If someone gets hit by a car, flys off of a dock, then gets attacked by a shark.

That someone is Mr. Lucky.

S.D.

That is a Bizzare picture! It does look like a Sock...

kowgurl

yeah i was just thinking, man the media was all apeshit over shark attacks for awhile there, then the WTC got blowed up and we never heard another peep.

Let's hope this summer doesn't provide a news sotry big enough to distract them from live sharkcams on the beaches.

Jen

I know, the news media loves them a shark attack story as well (the summer of 2001 was all about shark attacks). But it's just weird when one washes up; washed up whales seem more benign, if more smelly.

tien

i think the same goes for lightning, but don't quote me on that.

Jack

One of the worst things to ever happen to sharks was the release of JAWS the movie. Good lord! The movie was a monster movie about a monster shark that didn't really exist. But after that, all of the sudden sharks of all kinds are just demonized.

You have a better chance of getting hit by a car than getting attacked by a shark.

King of Zing

Yeah I second Mark's opinion, especially late at night at a bonfire all loaded on wine, and your boyfriend decides to stay and pass out on the beach.

Mark

as somebody who grew up right by the ocean, i can tell you that there are always sharks nearby. that said, it's so rare that they attack or bother people that it's not worth worrying. that said, it really is good advice to never swim alone in the ocean.