Great white sharks tagged

A total of five great white sharks have now been electronically tagged off Cape Cod, allowing experts to track their movements and learn more about their migratory habits.

The Massachusetts state office of Energy and Environmental Affairs said three sharks were tagged Tuesday off Monomy (MAW-no-moy) Island, near Chatham. Agency spokesman Kate Plourd said the largest of the three was about 15 feet long.

Two great whites were tagged Saturday by a harpooner working with a state shark expert. Officials said it was the first successful tagging of the creatures off Massachusetts. An attempt in 2004 failed when the device detached.

The sharks were first spotted last week, prompting officials to close Chatham-area beaches to swimming over the Labor Day weekend.