Worldwide statistics of unprovoked attacks are still very small, but are growing, according to researchers. We think of Australia, Hawaii, California, Florida, South Africa, the Gulf of Mexico, as more typical locations of encounters. But historically--since about the 1910's--North Carolina and Georgia waters have had a very significant share of unprovoked shark attacks.
Let me tell you about the encounter we had on land. Driving toward the toll bridge to the barrier islands late in the evening, we passed a dimly lit sign stating, among other things: "Two axle vehicles--$6.00."
The lady toll collector said to my-son-in-law who was driving: "That'll be eight even."
He replied: "But the sign says, six dollars."
"Correct. Have a happy Fourth." [of July].
We paid $6.00. As we drove wearily toward our final destination another 30 miles after the bridge, having been on the road for the past 12 hours, we discussed what just happened and how to react.
We decided it would be too tough to prove now, recognize which booth and which toll collector. Plus late at night, who do you report to, when no one's around? We did agree that the collector must be making some decent side money if others did not notice the solitary, dimly lit sign just before the toll booths--when drivers are more focused on which lane is shortest and if someone is merging into your lane.
Given the relatively high number of shark encounters off the Outer Banks, we wrote it off as just another encounter--but with a different breed of shark.
