shark was spotted just 200 yards offshore.

The six-foot shark was spotted by a boat crew off North Shore, Devonshire, at about 4 p.m. yesterday.

Once the alarm had been raised both Marine Police and biologists from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries began a search of the area to try and confirm the sighting.

A Police spokesman said: "It is not known at this stage what type of shark was seen and whilst not wishing to alarm the boating public, the Marine Police advise people to be aware of this alleged sighting and to exercise caution in and around the waters off North Shore.'' A 12-foot, 800-pound Tiger Shark was caught off the Bermudian coast on Sunday.

And Natural History Museum curator Dr. Wolfgang Sterrer confirmed that there are plenty of sharks in Bermuda's waters.

"There are more sharks than people think,'' he said.

"A lot of sharks around here can attack humans in the right circumstances, although Bermuda is known for being relatively free of shark attacks.

"There are a lot of sharks around at night -- they seem to be coming into the reef to feed -- but because they come over at night there are actually many more than people see.''