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25/06/2004: "JUST FOR FUN ....... Dean Cropp eating shark uw"
Zane Grey was a true-life pulp fiction author of the 1930's. His speciality was paperback westerns. He enjoyed big game fishing for black marlin and sharks. His legendary visits to his holiday base at the fishing village of Bermagui (NSW south coast) is still spoken of today. He put the town 'on the map' some say.
Zane occasionally caught a white pointer shark while hoping for marlin. Being a talented writer, he called the white pointer the "maneater".
In time it became common for any dangerous shark to be called a 'maneater' or 'maneating' shark, in the common terms. Newspaper headlines enjoyed the term. "Maneater Caught" etc.
Side Show Alley capitalised with 'tongue-in-cheek' cheeky stunt to fool the people. A tent at the Sydney Royal Easter Show promised thrills inside: "See a MAN EATING SHARK"! No shark. Just a man seated, eating a plate of cooked shark and chips! A classic con.
Dean Cropp remembered the story and demonstrated with a live epaulette shark on the GBR last year. This shark was of course, not eaten, just 'mouthed'.
