BIG GAME FISHING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 262, 18 August 1936, Page 4

BIG GAME FISHING.

NEW ZEALAND BEST. COMMENT ON ZANE GREY’S VIEWS. (For Press Association.) AUCKLAND, August 17. Disagreement with the claims made recently by the American author and big game fisherman, Mr Zane Grey, that Australia. had the greatest fishing coast in the world and that Australia was superior to New Zealand as a sword-fishing field was expressed by Mr H. W. Williams, of Russell, who accompanied Mr Grey on his recent expedition to Great Barrier Reef, and who returned from Sydney by the Aorangi. Mr Williams brought his 36ft specially-constructed fishing launch Avalon back with him, this being the boat which Messrs Grey and Williams have used on many expeditions during the last 10 years. Mr Williams shipped the Avalon to Sydney in December, and, with Mr Grey. spent several months fishing for marlin and sharks} off the south coast of New South 'Wales. l Later they operated for about a month l at Sydney heads, and from May 6 toI August 3 they were at Great Barrier Reef with headquarters on Hayman' Island. While at the reef they took part in the production of the Cinesound film “White Death,” dealing with big game fishing. “I have fished in all parts of the world, and there is no place like New Zealand,” said Mr Williams. There was a great difference between Northl Auckland waters and the Australian coast, he said, and practically every aspect was in favour of the New Zealand area. The weather was far better, there was more shelter, greater facilities existed for anglers, and the fishing grounds were closer to established camps. Mr Grey’s belief that there were sharks in the Australian regions 80 feet to 100 feet long seemed fantastic to Mr Williams. “I have been fishing for years,” he said, “and the biggest shark I have ever seen was one 22 feet long at Whangamumu whaling station, North Auckland, about six years ago.” He did not know where Mr Grey was going to catch these monsters with 15feet sharks as bait.