Actually, I'm going to skip it and stay home.
"Shark sightings close a Cape Cod beach; Indefinite ban on swimming ignored by some" by Jack Nicas, Globe Correspondent | July 31, 2010
CHATHAM — Town officials closed South Beach for swimming indefinitely yesterday after a spotter plane located at least five great white sharks off the coast.
“They’re spread all up and down that beach,’’ said pilot George Breen, 66, who spotted three great whites during morning flights with a Globe reporter and photographer....
The number of confirmed shark sightings off the Massachusetts coast this summer is approaching 20. But state biologist Dr. Gregory Skomal said the count is meaningless because many sightings could have been of the same shark....
The sharks are attracted to the area’s thriving seal population, which is growing because of the seals’ protected status, said Skomal, a shark expert with the Division of Marine Fisheries.
Thousands of seals lounged on sand bars yesterday and rolled in the waves breaking along the swoops of the Chatham coast.
Meanwhile, dozens of people relaxed on the sand of South Beach and some went in for a swim, despite the ban.
After exiting the water, Nicola Massarotti, 39, of Naples, said he thought there was little chance of an attack by a great white.
“I’d be more afraid to be hit by a car than to get in a shark accident,’’ he said....
At the birthday party where a shark had swam nearby, many were nonchalant. Nearly all had gone swimming in the morning, and 12 of the partiers said they went in the water even after the harbor patrol boat came by and asked them not to.
Is that how you respect authority in AmeriKa?
“We’re careful; we don’t go too far out. But I think I’m faster than a shark anyway,’’ joked the birthday girl, Hallie Smith, 30, of Chatham....
Oh, okay, birthday girl.
--more-"
Other shark sightings: Sharks draw tourists to Cape Cod town
Judge raises bail for sex offender
Bill Clinton brings star power to Lynch party
That Bill Clinton! Always on the lookout for some new snatch!
