Citation: Went, A.E.J. & O Suilleabhain, S. 1967 Fishing for the sun-fish or basking shark in Irish waters. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 65C: 91-116
Number of Pages: 26
Volume Part: 5
Keywords: Fauna, Fish, Fishing, Galway, History, Marine, Pisces, Shark
Abstract: 'The first section of this paper... gives the history to date of the basking shark from published and other sources of information. The second section gives a number of accounts [all from Co. Galway] of fishing for basking sharks, as recorded in the manuscripts preserved by the Irish Folklore Commission'. Basking sharks were of economic value as sources of oil in the 18th and 19th century. The development of harpoons is also dealt with. Number and weight of sharks caught, and tons of oil and flesh obtained, are tabulated for 1950-65.