u can also pacify a smaller shark by flipping it over on its back. i recently tried it with smooth dogfish (be careful handling the spiny ones) and it works.
More here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonic_immobility
Quote:
Tonic immobility is a natural state of paralysis that animals enter, in most cases when presented with a threat.
Sharks can be placed in a tonic immobility state by turning them upside down. The shark remains in this state of paralysis for an average of fifteen minutes before it recovers. Scientists have exploited this phenomenon to study shark behaviour.
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