STRUCK A SUNFISH.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 230, 25 September 1908, Page 5

STRUCK A SUNFISH.

— — ■ ii. • ■ - -- .i STEAMER'S REMARKABLE EXPERIENCE. VESSEL TEMPORARILY DISABLED. SYDNEY, September 19. Lying on the deck oi the steamer Fiona, when she reached the Pyrmont whan of the Colonial Sugar Kenning Company last night, was a huge snnrish, weigmng about two tons, its capture wa_ made under remarkable circumbtances, while the steamer was coming down the coast on the passage from the Clarence River. Captain Barnes told a "Daily Telegraph reporter that the monster becr.nie embedded in one of the steamer's propellers (the Fiona is a twin-screw boat), and temporarily disabled tbe vessel, which had to make port with only one engine working. "The Fiona,"' said Captain Barnes, "left Harwood, on the Clarence Biver, at 12.20 p.m. on September 17, and cleared the Clarence bar at 1.40 pjn. | the same day. She was favoured with remarkably tine weather, and all went well until 1.15 p.m. yesterday, when I about 10 miles otf Bird Island, and 45 ; miies from Sydney Heads. At the hour mentioned all hands were alarmed by a sudden shock to the hull of the vessel. It appeared as though the steamer had struck some solid substance or wreckage, i j1 he result was remarkable, for the port J j engine was brought up "all standing." I The starboard engine was quickly I I stopped, and a boat lowered and sent Ito the stem to investigate. On get- | ! ting under the steamers counter, the | ! boat's crew were astonished to find that : ! a huge sunfish had become securely fixed jln the bracket of the port propeller, i i One blade was completely embedded in I j the flesh, jamming the fish firmly | j against the stern post. I "It was impossible to extricate the j monster," continued the captain, "so we j hoisted the boat on board again and ' proceeded on our passage with the star- ; board engine only working. Progress j . under the circumstances was slow, but i Sydney Heads was safely reached at | 7.30 p.m. The Fiona was headed into Mo-man Bay, where she anchored. All bands were then set to work to clear the prcpeller. and, after some difficulty, with tne aid of the steam winch, the sunfish ' was hoisted clear and swung on board, j Tne Fiona then got under way, and pro- i cceded to the Sugar Company's wharf, where she arrived at 9.30 p m."' The fish was badly torn about by the propeller, and had evidently been struck j whi'e asleep. Instances are given of steamers runI ninjr foul of these monsters of the deep. Some years ago the Union Company's , steamer Wakatipu. on a Xew Zealand i trip, crashed into a big sunfish. She hit j it bow on, and efforts were made to secure the prize. When, however, the vessel's war was taken off the bi? fish j dropped clear of the bow and was lost, I ' I