Lee wrote

>>Francis Macomber tried that once.

>>Presumably a reference to "Ernest Hemingwayâs "The Short Happy Life of
Francis Macomber?  I'm having a problem applying the reference not because
it is too obscure, but rather, because it seems to apply in more than one
respect:

That's the one. I supposed that a Floridian would know his H'way.

>1. Francis took an agressive position early on, but missed.  While I'm not
particularly worried about missing, I am a bit conserned about missing a
killing shot or that my powerhead will misfire.  I've not fired it yet and,
being a novice at killing something because it's agressive rather than
killing for food value, I'm still unsure of how certain a kill is with my
powerhead.
2. Francis returned for another try, this time with a buddy.  Just when he
was ready to vindicate himself, the buddy shot him.  I can see a chance
that if I needed a reliable buddy for a backup shot, I might also, in the
mix of things, be at risk of receiving the shot.  To double up on this
aspect, last year, I narrowly missed being impaled on my buddy's speargun
(a boat movement issue, not a poorly, or perhaps well, aimed shot).<

100 points.

>At any rate, so far, I remain in favor of letting sharks live. 
Historically, they have not been a threat and, so far, they've not become a
particularly significant one in the places I spearfish.  The day I kill the
first one because I have to, is likely to be the last time I spearfish in
that area.<

And giving up a catch to a hungry shark also appears to be preferable to
having the shark  take it anyway plus body parts.
Isn't that what happened to that Fla DM a few years back?

MtW