Field Notes
SAND TIGER SHARK ALERT In addition to hooking seals, bluefish or striped bass at Great Point this summer, it's quite possible that you may sink your pearl bomber or ballistic missile into a sand tiger shark that hunts for food within casting distance of surf fishermen along the shores of the Cape and Islands.

If you do hook a sand tiger shark, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries wants to know about it. These sharks are found in coastal waters, bays and estuaries from July through September. Protected by both state and federal laws, the tiger sand shark is identified by two dorsal fins (in its back) of equal size and by its greyish brown body with dusky spots on its sides and tail. Often mistaken for smooth dogfish, sand tiger sharks have long thin teeth while smooth dogfish do not. You may also confuse the sand tiger shark with a spiny dogfish, but these fish have two dorsal fin spines and no anal fin.

If you see a sand tiger shark or catch one, try to note the length and condition of the shark, its location, the date and time of day and call the Massachusetts Shark Research Program at 508-910- 6329 or 508-693-4372. If you witness one being harmed in any way, notify the Massachusetts Environmental Police at 257-6932 on Nantucket and at 800-632-8075 on the mainland.

Sand Tiger Shark

ISLAND ARACHNOPHOBIA Last summer, two species of tarantula were discovered on Nantucket during Nantucket Biodiversity week. Although not nearly as large as those found in tropical climates, those with arachnophobia may have read about this and thought, "That's it. I'm never going walking in the wilds of Nantucket again."

Not to add another reason to stay indoors, but Northern black widow spiders also live in island fields. Maria Mitchell Association spider expert Andrew McKenna-Foster and Cheryl Beaton want your help in keeping track of these poisonous spiders. They are all black, with two red triangles on the female's abdomen. Their webs, which are large and appear like a snarl of tangled fishing line that can be seen after a good dewfall in the mornings, are found mostly in grasslands on Nantucket and Tuckernuck, with some in wooded areas of the island.

If you spot one of these webs, report its location to McKenna-Foster by calling him at 913-530-0953.

GETTING BACK IN THE SBPF GROOVE We had most of the summer off from the Conservation Commission's public hearings on the Siasconset Beach Preservation Fund's notice of intent to nourish its beaches with 2.6 million cubic yards of sand, but now it's back to school for those who must attend. Although the hearings appeared to reach an end, new commissioners were appointed, so a bit of catch-up for the new ConCom was deemed necessary.

SBPF's public hearing resumes on Aug. 27 from 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Siasconset Casino, and continues on Aug. 29 during the same five-hour period in the same location. Beyond that, there will be additional five-hour meetings on Sept. 10, 24 and 26, from 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The ConCom has yet to nail down a venue for these latter three meetings, although it is working on securing space at the town's 2 Fairgrounds Road building. To confirm the details of these meetings, call the Conservation Commission office at 228-7230.

Also, if you know you've got something to say about this project, but can't always get the right words out in front of other people, the ConCom urges you to write your comments down and send them or drop them off at the commission's office in the Town Annex building at 37 Washington St.

HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY IS AUG. 18 Is your garage packed with dangerous chemicals, used motor oils and buckets of spent batteries? The August hazardous waste collection day, hosted by the Department of Public Works, is this Saturday at the landfill.

Bring all of your nasty liquids and solids out to the garage at 188 Madaket Road from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. To get there, take the third entrance to the landfill property coming from the town and the first coming from Madaket. For a complete listing of what you can and can't unload, check out www.nantucket ma.gov/departments/dpw.html, scroll down and click on the link for household hazardous waste

or call 228-7244. I