BATHERS BEWARE.

Auckland Star, Issue 291, 9 December 1925, Page 6

BATHERS BEWARE.

LARGE SHARKS IN HARBOUR. 8-FOOTER CAUGHT AT DEVONPORT. Sharks are known to be in the harbour in unusually large numbers at the present time, and bathers are warned to exercise every precaution when in the - -, At Devonport yesterday afternoon a grey nurse shark, measuring Bft 3in from nose to tail, was landed by Mr. W. J. Costello from his launch Hinemoa. Mr. Costello, who has had considerable experience in handling the big fish, has been on the look-out for sharks for the past few days, and on Monday succeeded in landing a specimen measuring 6ft. Yesterday .' morning he hooked several big fish, but his tackle proved inadequate to hold them, and he failed to make a catch. In the afternoon, however, he saw no lees than five swimming about, and was more successful, the big shark mentioned above being hooked between the Victoria wharf and the Calliope wharf in about three feet of water. .After a hard fight, the angler succeeded in landing his catch. A number of other sharks have been caught this season, and it is evident that a large school is at present visiting .the harbour. Although sharks are fairly common to the Waitemata during the summer months, they have been seen in but small numbers during previous seasons. That the present unwelcome visitors are unusually venturesome is proved by the fact that Mr. Costello's catch was made in very shallow water, and in a place where a number of small boats were moored. The grey nurse variety is particularly dangerous, and the sharks have frequently been known to attack human beings. 1 Safeguarding Milfora. That the residents of marine suburbs are fully alive to the dangers of sharks to bathers is evidenced by the fact that at least'in one district, Milford> a surf« club has been formed. Thoitgh it had as its objective the general welfare of the bathers, the shark menace was also prominent before it. It is doubtful whether in the history of bathing in Auckland there have been such' a number ' of these terrifying sea monsters about so early in the season. Auckland hte been singularly free from shark tragedies, but the Milford club is not resting content in these fortunate circnm wtances, arid it is making provision for safeguarding the swimmers at Milford, and giving them some sense of security. It is proposed to erect a look-out at the bottom end of' Saltburn Soad, where one of the club's members will keep a vigilance during the times bathing is at its, height. He will be in communication with an alarm system, which will warn the bathers. Ii» £h« 'event or an untoward happening Jfc> er members of the club will be on for attendance on the reel and otnor" necessary life-savin" equipment. The president of the Surf Club, Mr.,L. J. Minogue, has been assured of the sympathy and support" of the Takapuna Borough Council, and no doubt that the movement will be heartily approved, not only by the local residents, but the thousands of swimmers who frequent Milford