When a basking shark opens its jaws, try not to find yourself in
this situation: Basking sharks, that can measure 40 feet long
and weigh 8,600 pounds ( even larger in the Atlantic ), are the
planet's second-largest sharks ( only the whale shark is larger
). Did you know that Puget Sound is home to an impressive array
of sharks ? At least six species of sharks have been reported in
local waters. But only three species - spiny dogfish, sixgill
sharks AND basking sharks - have been encountered with any
regularity. But don't worry, basking sharks are harmless
creatures. They feed exclusively on massive quantities of
microscopic plankton.