Great White a Great Pain to Get Rid of

The 13-foot great white shark that a San Pedro fisherman snared last weekend has caused quite a sensation at Galletti Bros. Seafoods on Terminal Island, where manager Dino Lauro has been trying all week “to get rid of that thing.”

The 2,000-pound shark has attracted a parade of onlookers into the Galletti Bros. freezer--restaurateurs interested in having it stuffed for display, taxidermists interested in doing the stuffing, and gawkers interested in simply inspecting the bloody beast.

But, Lauro lamented Wednesday, nobody is interested in buying it.

“It’s time to get rid of that thing,” the frustrated fish broker complained. “I’m tired of answering phones. It’s taking away from my regular business.”

With all the publicity about the shark’s capture, Lauro initially expected it to fetch $1,500. On Wednesday, he said he was hoping to sell the head for $500 to a Huntington Beach taxidermist who expressed some interest, or perhaps reap $600 by unloading the whole carcass on the San Pedro Fish Market for display at Ports O’ Call Village.

“I made them an offer just to take the fish for $600,” he said, “because I’m getting sick of it right now.”

Should only the head sell, Lauro said the rest of the shark will be unceremoniously dumped. He said he doesn’t sell the meat from great whites because many people have qualms about eating them, and noted that the fish is now too old to sell or even give away.

The shark was snagged Friday, about 20 miles south of San Clemente Island, in the gill nets of the Aggressor, a San Pedro-based fishing boat owned by Anthony Tipich. Lauro, who regularly buys thresher and mako shark from Tipich, is trying to sell the great white on behalf of his client.

As for Tipich, he could not be reached.

“He’s hiding,” Lauro said. “He’s so tired of this. He’s worried about getting the rest of the fish sold instead of that damn white shark. What a pain.”