Amity- Hot dogs, fireworks and sunny weather are not the only things to celebrate this Fourth of July in Amity, Mass., as a shark blamed for the death of two swimmers has been caught and killed.
Police Chief Martin Brody was on site to see the giant shark, caught by fisherman Mike Swenson, Medford, Mass., hung by the tail and snout.
“The fishermen who caught the beast will receive a $3,000 reward for their heroic and selfless efforts,” Brody said.
Matt Hooper, marine biologist from the Oceanographic Institute in Woods Hole Mass., inspected the shark once it was brought ashore and identified it as a nurse shark weighing 875 pounds.
“Nurse Sharks are among the most brutal and dangerous of all sharks,” Hooper said. “[They] have been responsible for hundreds of swimmers’ deaths along the East Coast of the United States.
“I urge all residents to recreate at the beaches in order to encourage the participation of all our visitors in the wonderful water sports of which we all so happily partake throughout the summer,” Brody said.
All of the Amity beaches have now been reopened. “Swim and have fun!” Brody said. After a hesitation by many at the beginning of the day, the beach goers slowly began to trickle into the water.
Brody warned “islanders and guests alike” not to be alarmed by the shark spotters who have remained on the beaches. The Coast Guard, Marine Patrol, Massachusetts State Police, U.S. Navy, Homeland Security and the FBI have representative stationed in Amity, along with local municipal and county police agencies.
“They are simply a safety precaution that we hope will put our visitors at ease,” Brody said.
There was a frightening moment when a dorsal fin was spotted in the water and those swimming quickly fled to shore.
Closer inspection revealed that Wayne Winston, 12, and Brad Kaplan, 12, were swimming in wet suits with a makeshift fin, pulling a prank on the Amity vacationers.
“He made me do it,” Winston said as the two boys were pulled from the water by shark spotters. The spotters are stationed in boats along the coast equipped with firearms.
Apart from a few bumps and bruises exciting the water, there were no injuries.
While Brody said that the island officials “believe that the danger of further shark attacks has probably passed,” a toll-free shark sighting hotline has been set up.
Brody requested that any sightings be reported to 1-800-sharksee.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Local Fisherman Offers to Find and Kill Shark
Amity- A sign reading “Reward: $3,000 bounty to the man or men who catch and kill that shark that killed Alex Kintner” hung on the wall outside of a special held last night to discuss future actions in response of the recent tragedies at two Amity beaches.
Amity Mayor Larry Vaughn and Police Chief Martin Brody met with the Amity Board of Selectmen at Town Hall at 6 p.m. last night to establish the next steps to be taken after two beach goers were killed by a shark.
“We’re going to put extra summer deputies and shark spotters on the beach,” Brody said to the assembled audience.
Brody continued by adding that Oceanographic Institute experts will be coming to Amity to further address the two deaths that took place yesterday.
Christine Watson, 17, a senior at Amity High School, was last seen at a beach party Sunday night with Christopher Hoggenbottam, former island resident, before her body was found washed onto the shore of South Beach early Monday morning.
Later that afternoon, Alex Kintner, 10, of Mayfair Court was playing in the water with his friends when he became a victim of what appeared to be an unprovoked shark attack. The body has not been recovered, but Alex Kintner’s damaged raft washed ashore and appears to have a large bite taken out of it.
Ben Quint, local fisherman, commanded the attention of the room by scrapping his fingers nails on the chalkboard to gain the audience’s attention.
“It’s not gonna be pleasant,” Quint said, after he offered to find and kill the shark for a $10,000 reward.
“For that you get the head, the tail; the whole damn thing.”
“I don’t want no volunteers,” Quint said, making it clear he prefers to work alone.
The mayor later responded that the town of Amity would contribute $7,000 to the $3,000 reward set by Marion Kintner for the capture and kill of the accused shark.
Amity Mayor Larry Vaughn and Police Chief Martin Brody met with the Amity Board of Selectmen at Town Hall at 6 p.m. last night to establish the next steps to be taken after two beach goers were killed by a shark.
“We’re going to put extra summer deputies and shark spotters on the beach,” Brody said to the assembled audience.
Brody continued by adding that Oceanographic Institute experts will be coming to Amity to further address the two deaths that took place yesterday.
Christine Watson, 17, a senior at Amity High School, was last seen at a beach party Sunday night with Christopher Hoggenbottam, former island resident, before her body was found washed onto the shore of South Beach early Monday morning.
Later that afternoon, Alex Kintner, 10, of Mayfair Court was playing in the water with his friends when he became a victim of what appeared to be an unprovoked shark attack. The body has not been recovered, but Alex Kintner’s damaged raft washed ashore and appears to have a large bite taken out of it.
Ben Quint, local fisherman, commanded the attention of the room by scrapping his fingers nails on the chalkboard to gain the audience’s attention.
“It’s not gonna be pleasant,” Quint said, after he offered to find and kill the shark for a $10,000 reward.
“For that you get the head, the tail; the whole damn thing.”
“I don’t want no volunteers,” Quint said, making it clear he prefers to work alone.
The mayor later responded that the town of Amity would contribute $7,000 to the $3,000 reward set by Marion Kintner for the capture and kill of the accused shark.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Shark Sidebar Story
Durham, N.H. – For many New Hampshire residents, the recent shark attacks in Cape Cod have hit a little too close to home, fearing that similar attacks could occur off of a New Hampshire beach.
With the tragic deaths of two Amity beach goers fresh in the minds of those on the New England coast, local shark experts reassure residents that the likelihood of being attacked by a shark is still very slim.
According to WMUR, “bees, wasps and snakes are responsible for more fatalities than sharks every year” and “the odds of getting killed by a shark are extremely minimal.”
Also, for those who live in the U.S., the chance of being struck and killed by lightning is 30 times greater than being killed by a shark, making sharks less of threat than many realize.
In a report published on their website, the shark experts at the Florida Museum of Natural History offer some insight as to why humans have developed an intense fear of sharks. They attribute part of the fear to the media and its portrayal of sharks.
“In today's world we constantly are subjected to the media's stereotypic
characterizations of sharks, which are rife with misinformation and actively promote fear and loathing.”
The discussion continued with perhaps a rooted instinct or human characteristic that has developed over the years as a cause for the fear.
“We as humans are used to controlling the world around us…sharks, like typhoons, lightning and tornados, are something we cannot control, hence our great interest in them.”
For those who are still worried that a shark may appear near Hampton Beach, the Florida Museum of Natural History offers some helpful tips for avoiding attacks on their website such as staying in a group, avoiding ocean swims at twilight or dark hours and refraining from wearing shiny jewelry while swimming.
With the tragic deaths of two Amity beach goers fresh in the minds of those on the New England coast, local shark experts reassure residents that the likelihood of being attacked by a shark is still very slim.
According to WMUR, “bees, wasps and snakes are responsible for more fatalities than sharks every year” and “the odds of getting killed by a shark are extremely minimal.”
Also, for those who live in the U.S., the chance of being struck and killed by lightning is 30 times greater than being killed by a shark, making sharks less of threat than many realize.
In a report published on their website, the shark experts at the Florida Museum of Natural History offer some insight as to why humans have developed an intense fear of sharks. They attribute part of the fear to the media and its portrayal of sharks.
“In today's world we constantly are subjected to the media's stereotypic
characterizations of sharks, which are rife with misinformation and actively promote fear and loathing.”
The discussion continued with perhaps a rooted instinct or human characteristic that has developed over the years as a cause for the fear.
“We as humans are used to controlling the world around us…sharks, like typhoons, lightning and tornados, are something we cannot control, hence our great interest in them.”
For those who are still worried that a shark may appear near Hampton Beach, the Florida Museum of Natural History offers some helpful tips for avoiding attacks on their website such as staying in a group, avoiding ocean swims at twilight or dark hours and refraining from wearing shiny jewelry while swimming.
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