0100,0100,0100I am grateful to Doug. Henderson of the National Marine Aquarium for the following information on the Balance Fish/Hammerhead Shark. "The species (of Hammerhead) most likely to be seen is Sphyrna zygaena, which occasionally occurs in northern European waters. Wheeler (1978) says "recorded 5 times in the present century in northern European waters, and at least 7 times in the 19thC". I can find no reference to any further North than South Wales. Hence while a sighting (in Scotland) is feasible, it is pretty unlikely". To reurn to Sid's point, it looks as though out of the 29 species of sharks recorded in UK waters, Verne chose the least likely one to be found in the Clyde. Nejat makes the perfectly valid point that Verne was writing fiction, not factual accounts and obviously the vast majority of readers appreciate his novels as such. However, I do believe there is some merit in exploring the factual basis of his novels if only to further admire the man's genius. For example, we know that he was producing at least two novels a year and that each manuscript went through substantial revisions. It is remarkable that he found the time, energy and resources to research the factual background so thoroughly and for the most part accurately in relation to the state of knowledge at the time. For example, I have researched the local detail of the 5 novels involving Glasgow and have found him correct in virtually all respects, including things that I didn't know myself in spite of 28 years of residence here!.I find that it is the blend of fact and fiction that for me is the fascination of Verne, but of course the value of the fiction must always predominate. Ian Thompson