Isle of Wight Observer September 22 1860
As Anthony Cooper, a fisherman, was fishing off the Sandshead buoy on Thursday morning, he, much to his surprise, hooked on his trott a shark, measuring about four feet. As he hauled it in the boat he hit the young sea-monster a blow upon the head with a knife, which had the effect of causing the fish to cast up accounts. The first account rendered, was a large eel, four feet in length, and this marine snake, considering his length was equal to that of the shark, could only have met with accommodation in those abdominal regions by forming into a coil. This specimen of rarities is the first we have heard of for some time this side of the Wight.
