Summer of the shark

As the weather cools with the arrival of autumn, the great white sharks that have lurked beneath Massachusetts coastal waters, both frightening and fascinating beachgoers all summer, are finally heading south, officials said. 'They're certainly on their way out of the area,' said Catherine Williams, a spokeswoman for the Division of Marine Fisheries. 'It has very much to do with water temperature. Typically, they will stick around until October.' The sharks prefer waters in excess of 60 degrees. Once the temperatures drop, they leave the area for Florida, Williams said. This one was photographed July 31 off Chatham. Click through the photos for more on this summer's sightings. (Full story here.)
Wendy Maeda/Globe Staff

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As the weather cools with the arrival of autumn, the great white sharks that have lurked beneath Massachusetts coastal waters, both frightening and fascinating beachgoers all summer, are finally heading south, officials said.

"They're certainly on their way out of the area," said Catherine Williams, a spokeswoman for the Division of Marine Fisheries. "It has very much to do with water temperature. Typically, they will stick around until October."

The sharks prefer waters in excess of 60 degrees. Once the temperatures drop, they leave the area for Florida, Williams said. This one was photographed July 31 off Chatham. Click through the photos for more on this summer's sightings.

(Full story here.)