What was the inspiration for Spielberg’s thriller Jaws?

• Shark attach funny: http://youtube.com/watch?v=1nzd0R_OeOc&feature=related

The New Jersey shark attacks of July 1916

July 1916 northeastern U.S. background • Deadly summer heat wave• Polio epidemic

Drove thousands to seaside resorts

1st attack: July 1st, Beach Haven, N.J.: Charles Vansant, 25 years old, rescued by life guard but bled to death

2nd attack: July 6th (45 mile North of Beach haven) Spring Lake, N.J., Charles Bruder, 28 years old, rescued by two life guards but bled to death

Final attacks: Matawan Creek, N.J. (30 miles North of Spring Lake and 16 miles inland, 2.5 miles up tiny Matawan creek)

• July 12th Lester Stillwell, 11 years old, body recovered July 14th 150 feet upstream of attack

• July 12th Stanley Fisher, 24 years old, dove into water to recover Stillwell’s body was attacked & bled to death

• July 12th Joseph Dunn, 14 years old, attacked a half mile from Wyckoff dock nearly 30 min. after Stillwell and Fisher, survived with amputation of left lower leg

Was the July 1916 culprit killed?

Two days after the attacks a 8.5 foot Great White Shark was caught in Raritan Bay. The sharks stomach contained the shinbone of a boy & part of a human rib.

Or was it the work of more than one shark?

Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias)• Range OK• Aggressive OK• Not known to inhabit

brackish or fresh water

Bull Shark (Carcharhinus leucas)

• Range OK

• Aggressive OK

• Inhabit brackish &

fresh water

Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo cuvier)

• Range OK

• Aggressive OK

• Know to inhabit

brackish water

We need a bigger boat!

Sharks are eating machines:

The Sharks mouth:• several rows of sharp triangular teeth (replaced if lost)• Used to grasp prey (swallow hole or tear off large chunks to swallow)

www.maniacworld.com/Tiger-Shark-vs-Turtle.html

Maco

Tiger

Great White

Sharks Jaw: jets forward when biting to increase bite area

Humanjaw donot

Sharks eyes: when biting roll back in head to protect from injury

The Sharks stomach:If a shark is hungry it will

eat whatever fits into its mouth

What’s in your stomach?

You if I want.

Unusual contents:• Legs of lamb• Parts of ham• Front half of a bulldog• Rear half of a pig• Tin cans• Coal• False teeth• Leather jackets

• Bottle of Madeira wine• 30 ft roll of roofing paper• Automobile license plates• Pots and pans• Telephone book• Keg of nails• Sail canvas• Kerosene lantern• Reindeer parts

Why do sharks attack people?

1. Curiosity: food or not, what is it?

2. Interaction: social hierarchy

3. Provoked: did we get in their space

4. See us as competition:

5. Territoriality or a threat:

6. Mistaken identity:http://youtube.com/watch?v=gw9qMZSuE9k&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSsZr1agCyY&feature=related

Unprovoked attacks per decade

Who are the sharks attacking

Why is the fatality rate decreasing?

• t

• p

• Shark attack head first: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqYqroPZi-U&NR=1