Burning of Port Salerno shark factory, 1962
Item
Title
Burning of Port Salerno shark factory, 1962
Subject
Description
Port Salerno's Volunteer Fire Department organized a planned burn of the Port Salerno shark factory at the request of its owner in June of 1962. The volunteer fire department also created a social event for the department's families, roasting hotdogs and marshmallows as the building was burned.
Charlie Mooney founded the shark factory in the late 1920s. He later sold the business to the Borden Co., which operated the factory at its peak output during WW II. The factory produced shark oil, which was used for the manufacturing of vitamins, no longer available from Japan during the war. During this time, hundreds of sharks were processed each day. The factory also began producing shark repellent, which garnered national attention in news and magazines during the 1930s. Eventually the business went under after competition from Cuba took over the industry.
Charlie Mooney founded the shark factory in the late 1920s. He later sold the business to the Borden Co., which operated the factory at its peak output during WW II. The factory produced shark oil, which was used for the manufacturing of vitamins, no longer available from Japan during the war. During this time, hundreds of sharks were processed each day. The factory also began producing shark repellent, which garnered national attention in news and magazines during the 1930s. Eventually the business went under after competition from Cuba took over the industry.
Creator
Source
Scan gift of Sandra Thurlow.
Rights
In Copyright - Rights-holder(s) Unlocatable or Unidentifiable The Martin County Library System believes this Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. However, for this Item, either (a) no rights-holder(s) have been identified or (b) one or more rights-holder(s) have been identified but none have been located. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For more information, visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-RUU/1.0/
Format
Black and white negative; 2.3x2.3 inches
Language
English
Type
Still Image
Identifier
Thurlow-2025-008-events-042
2025.008
Coverage
Original Format
Negatives
Collection
Citation
Arthur Ruhnke (1912-1986), “Burning of Port Salerno shark factory, 1962,” Martin Digital History, accessed October 5, 2026, https://www.martindigitalhistory.org/items/show/13092.