July 4th: Killer Shark Caught, Reopening Beaches for Fourth of July

The killer shark responsible for the gruesome deaths of two young people this week was caught and killed this afternoon, reopening the beaches of Amity Island to expectant Fourth of July beachgoers and weekend vacationers.

The 400lb shark was inspected by Matt Hooper, a marine biologist from the Woods Hole, Massachusetts Oceanographic Institute and one of the world's foremost experts on sharks. Hooper identified the 12-foot-long shark as a nurse shark: among the most dangerous and aggressive species to lurk in East Coast waters.

The proud fishermen caught the shark in waters one mile south-southwest of Amity and will receive the $3,000 reward as offered by the Kintner family.

Consequently, all previously closed Amity Island beaches due to imminent shark attacks were reopened immediately to the public.

While the danger for further shark attacks seems to have passed, shark spotters were employed in the shoreline waters for the Fourth of July in a collective effort by the Coast Guard, the Marine Patrol, the Massachusetts State Police, the U.S. Navy, Homeland Security, the FBI, and numerous local municipal and county police agencies.

Amity Mayor Bob Farley was all smiles as he proudly announced the catching of a "large predator" and the reopening of the island's beaches, "Its a beautiful day."

At Village Beach where vacationers packed the sands with towels, blankets, and plastic toys, shark spotters were briefly distracted by two young boys swimming through the shallow water terrorizing the masses with a manmade cardboard shark fin. The boys whose identities have yet to be released, were referred to their parents and are set to do public service in retribution for the scare.

Islanders and guests alike are still urged to practice vigilance while enjoying the rest of the holiday weekend spent at the Amity beaches. Any shark sightings are to be reported to authorities at the toll-free shark hotline, 1-800-sharksee.

Beware of Jaws

Circulating rumors of the shark attacks on Amity Island beaches have left some New Hampshirites wary of wading into the water, but with only 17 miles of coastline, a shark attack on New Hampshire beaches seems highly unlikely.

So what exactly are the odds of a New Hampshire beachgoer encountering a Great White Shark like the man-eating Jaws? Not likely, according to history.

The International Shark Attack File has reported 6 unprovoked shark attacks in New England since 1670, none of which were from New Hampshire. Of these attacks, one was reported in Connecticut, one in Rhode Island and the other four in Massachusetts, two of which were fatal. The last fatality was dated at 1936.

Dr. David Berlinsky, associate professor of zoology and the current Director of the Center for Marine Biology at the University of New Hampshire says that a shark attack in New Hampshire while not impossible is not likely, "We've seen sharks far off the coast in the Atlantic Ocean but there have been no reported sightings of sharks within swimming distance so it seems highly unlikely anyone at Hampton Beach for instance could be attacked by Jaws."

Sharks that swim off the coast of New England include: the thresher, tiger, angel, basking, blue, dusky, mako, spiny dogfish, sharpnose, smooth hammerhead, sandbar, porbeagle, sandtiger, smooth dogfish and even the dreaded great white.

So what do you do if you encounter one of these beasts of the deep?

Experts agree that the best preventative methods: are to avoid sandbars and steep dropoffs, sites frequented by sharks. Avoid bright colored bathing suits and jewelry as sharks see contrast well. Refrain from excess splashing. Avoid the waters at dusk, dawn, and night.

If you spot a shark: calmly exit the area, releasing any catch you may have been fishing for.

If a shark attacks: concentrate blows to the eyes, nose and gills, these are the most sensitive areas.

Further Links:

International Shark Attack File
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/isaf/isaf.htm

Fast Facts on Sharks of New England
http://www.morebeach.com/north-atlantic-ocean/new-england-sharks.html

Shark Attack Tips
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/08/0804_040804_shark_attack.html

Second Shark Attack Closes Island Beaches

The sudden, violent death of a young boy off the shores of Village Beach has stirred the resort community of Amity Island.

Alex B. Kintner, 10, of Mayfair Court, was brutally attacked and killed this afternoon in what Police Chief Martin Brody called a "vicious and unprovoked shark attack."

Kintner was playing with friends in the waters of Village Beach where witnesses recounted a violent, chaotic scene of screaming beachgoers rushing to the waters to retrieve their children as a pool of blood surfaced in the water.

Kintner's body has not been recovered but the yellow inflatable raft he was playing on floated ashore after the incident, chewed up.

Kintner's mother, Marion Kintner, is currently being treated for shock at Amity General Hospital after witnessing her son's death. She is listed in fair condition. Another unsolved disappearance includes a beloved family dog, a black Labrador named Pippin last seen playing fetch in the water with his owner.

Although investigators are considering that this is the second of what appears to be related shark attacks off the Amity Island beach shores in the last two days, a hungry shark has not yet been confirmed as the perpetrator. The investigation of linking the two cases is ongoing.

At a town hall meeting last night, Mayor Bob Farley, Police Chief Martin Brody, and the Amity Board of Selectmen attempted to placate fears of a frenzied, feeding shark and address a distressed crowd of residents.

Chief Brody assured residents that an expert was coming to participate in the investigation from the Ocean Graphic Institute on the mainland and the department is employing the use of spotters. He also proposed that the beaches be closed for at least 24 hours, banning residents and tourists alike from the waters on July 4.

The Kintner family is offering a reward for $3,000 for the capture of the perpetrator. Local fisherman Ben Quint said the shark would be big enough to "swallow you whole." He proposed to catch and kill the shark for increased reward pay, "I'll find him for $3,000. I'll catch him and kill him for $10,000."

The beaches are to remain open to the public for July 4.

Local Teenager Found Dead on South Shore Beach

Police are investigating the tragic death of a local teenager after her mauled body washed up on South Shore Beach early this morning.

According to Amity Police Chief Martin Brody, the girl was identified as Wendy W. Watson, 17, a senior at Amity High School. Her body had been discovered as severely mangled by an unknown attacker and was transported to the coroner's office for autopsy.

Police were notified to her disappearance around 4 a.m. by another teen, a male, whose identity is being withheld.

Watson was last seen alive leaving a beach party with her unidentified male companion around 11 p.m.

As told by this confidential source, the two teenagers decided to slip away for a late-night swim off a remote section of South Beach near the South Beach Shoal bell buoy. Witnesses confirmed that both teenagers had been drinking heavily.

Investigators are stumped at the extraordinary of this case. The weather last night was clear, the seas calm, and Watson was reportedly an excellent swimmer, starting rumors of a shark being the culprit.

Though a shark attack has not been entirely ruled out, police assure beachgoers that the waters are safe. The island's beaches are to remain open pending the outcome of further investigations into this case.