WAYS OF THE WILD.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 226, 24 September 1927, Page 21

WAYS OF THE WILD.

A NATURALISrS NOTEBOOK. THE TIGER SHARK: A RAPACIOUS FISH.

(By A.T. PYCROFT.)

! I am indebted to Mr. L. T. Griffin, F.Z.S., assistant curator of the Auckland Museum, for a copy of his recent paper "Additions to the Fish Fauna of New Zealand." , Mr. Griffin describes in this paper nine interesting species, most of which constitute new records to our fish fauna. During a visit to the Bay of Islande last February, at the height of the fishing season, a epecimen of the tiger shark captured on rod and line by Dr. Newland, of Adelaide, was examined, and for the first time officially recorded in New Zealand. The weight of the fish was 5441b, its total length twelve feet. On examining this fish the stomach was found to contain two very large crayfish, a blue penguin, and a large coarse-haired dog, the size of a collie. Mr. Griffin states he ha-s every reason to believe the tiger shark (so called from the stripes on the side resembling those of a tiger, the stripes not being seen when the fish is first captured, but when dry are plainly observable), is fairly plentiful in our waters, where it Sis known as the shovel nose. Battle Wits a Huge Shark. The late Mr. A. R. McCulloch, zoologist to the Australian Museum, Sydney, and probably one of the world's ablest ichthyologists, describes the tiger shark as a common and dangerous species, which attains a length of sixteen feet, and that it is widely distributed throughout temperate and tropical seas, often appearing in harbours and estuaries on the Australian coast. Mr. Mitchell Hedges, in his book "Battles With Giant Fish," describes the capturing of a huge tiger shark. In 1921 Mitchell Hedges was fishing in the Bay of Panama from a 20-ton cruising motor yacht, Hi* various catches are authenticated by photographs and the vertebrae and jaws which the author brought back to England. His first tackle was heavy rods, reels and lines. As he could not handle the big fish wth this gear, hemp lines were used, and as they proved inadequate, application was made to the United States Government shops at Balboa to make what was considered would be suitable hooks, and supply the necessary lines to catch the huge sharks and sawfish. The chief superintendent of the docks entered into the spirit of the adventure, and instructed that the gear required be made. The order for a dozen each of half, three-eighth, and quarter-inch steel hooks, and for lines a thousand yards each, of half, threeeighth and quarter-inch rope, was supplied. The heaviest fish hooks, with their chains attached, each weighed 14 pounds. Sawfish weighing one and threequarter tons, and sharks up to 1760 pounds were secured, the larger fish towing the 20-ten yacht for miles. The following is an abridged account of the capture of the huge tiger shark. Orer Twenty Feet Long. Two baits of sawfish flesh, each weighing about 1001b, were used on two of the 14K> hooks. When about to lower the baits into the dinghv to be rowed out, Mitchell Hedges saw a 14ft shark attaek a huge sawfish and tear a great piece out of its side. The sawfish retaliated by using its terrible weapon, almost severing the shark, which must have been killed instantly. It was almost a certainty that the blood and carcase would attract fish, so the baited hooks were rowed out, After losing the bait twice a fish wae hooked, the line starting to ran out slowly at first, then faster and faster as more of the slack left the deck, and by the heavy pull and stretching when it came up with almost a twang on the capstan, it was known an abnormal fish had been struck. The yacht went ahead, tearing up the anchor, which, in dragging, managed to set it-self again in the bottom, and in spite of the strain on the line being terrific the anchor was not heaved so that they might be towed, as that meant a long and troublesome business. There was no dashing to and fro or circling, but simply a persistent pull straight ahead. Presently the fish changed its tactics, and, swimming deep down close to the boat, went astern. The line fouled the propeller as the fish circled, but presently the fish, swimming back, the line was cleared. The doggedness of this brute was extraordinary; with us struggling all the time two hours went by, and still the fish continued the same dead heavy pulling. It was three hours before v'e obtained a sight of it. Slowly it -*,&* becoming exhausted, and, as a plain view was obtained, it was seen to be a hujre tiger shark. As it came alongside, the cavernous mouth opened to its full width, then snapped with a force that would have severed a man with the greatest of ease. The big black eyes every now and then were covered with, the protecting discs. More than six times the fish was got alongside, only to lunge down aeain. When the fish was at last secured alongside there was a roar of water as the gigantic tail la?hed into the air feet higher than the deck; then, with a dreadiul crash, which shivered the boat, struck the side with eickening force. The boat rocked under the shock. Seven bullets were fired into the infuriated nsh before its terrible flurry ceased. With as little delay as possible it was towed backtoTaboga just in time to pet a series ot photographs, and earlv next morning it was dissected. Its measurements were 20ft 9in in length, lift Tin in girth, and the jaws were 7ft 4in : n circumference, its weight being l7rU-I:-. The teeth, which are totally uni;ke the shovel nose, sand, or whi:p "shark. ;v.?re curved, and the skin is different from that of other sharks, being verv ciu;h finer in texture. The stomach was found to contain pert of the fore leg and hind leg, vertebrae, ribs and shoulder blades of a bull, bullock, or cow. the remains of four pelicans, two sea hawks, two commorants, and a number of other bones not identifiable.