Fishermen Hook a Big One--a Great White : Harbor: Shark, believed to be a 1-month-old female, will be moved to a San Francisco aquarium. Scientists say she will have a better chance of survival there.

A young great white shark captured Thursday morning by halibut fishermen outside the breakwater at Los Angeles Harbor is the only great white in captivity, scientists said Friday.

The 4 1/2-foot shark, which scientists believe is a 1-month-old female, is being held in a fiberglass tank at USC’s Hancock Institute for Marine Studies on Terminal Island.

The shark will be driven today to San Francisco’s Steinhart Aquarium, where scientists hope to keep her on display in a 100,000-gallon tank.

“We’ve got our fingers crossed and are very excited about the possibility of keeping this shark alive,” said John McCosker, director of the Steinhart Aquarium.

No one has been able to keep a great white shark in captivity for more than 16 days, scientists said. In 1981, McCosker had one on display for four days but returned it to the ocean when it refused to eat.

McCosker is hopeful that this shark will fare better, thanks to technical improvements to the aquarium where she will be kept.

Although shark sightings are common in Los Angeles Harbor, scientists said it is rare to capture one of this size alive. The novelty drew scientists from all over Los Angeles to USC on Friday afternoon.

Among them was Robert Lavenberg, curator of fish at the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum, who reached into the tank to see if the shark had the remnants of a bellybutton, said to disappear after two months.

“Yep, it’s there,” Lavenberg said as the shark reared up and drenched him. “There’s a significant scar there. I’d say it’s a baby. Maybe a month old.”

He expressed disappointment that the shark would not stay in Los Angeles County, but USC marine biologist Richard Pieper said he believed that McCosker’s program is best equipped to keep the shark alive.