Basking sharks are named for their practice of 'basking' near the surface of the water, mouth open to capture zooplankton for food. An illustration from Popular Mechanics in 1956 shows the equipment used in the federal government's program to eradicate basking sharks on the B.C. in 2006 called Basking Sharks: The Slaughter of BC's Gentle Giants. Scientists estimate that the eradication program from 1955 to 1969 destroyed up to 90 per cent of the Basking sharks that would swim into B.C. It's been Jackie King's job to try to get a sense just how many Basking sharks may come and go now.

Source: CBC News October 12, 2020 10:52 UTC