SHARK CAUGHT BY BOAT’S CREW

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25741, 1 March 1949, Page 5

SHARK CAUGHT BY BOAT’S CREW

SURFERS ATTACKED OFF N.S.W. BEACH (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) SYDNEY, February 28. Five life-savers in a surf boat used their oars and a lifeline to stun and grey nurse shark weighing 5931 b when it attacked their boat off the Mona Vale beach. The boat was on shark patrol 400 yards beyond the surfing area when the shark crashed into the stern, almost throwing the sweep hand overboard. One man waited until the shark came in again, and then jabbed the blade of his oar into a gill while two others clubbed the shark with their oars. Another member of the crew seized the tail of the stunned shark and secured it with a line from the box-line outfit carried in the boat. Later surfers placed the shark on exhibition at Manly, and collected over £5O for their club funds. A grey nurse shark 12 feet long threw a youth off a surf ski at NewEort beach, and then cruised round im for 10 minutes while the youth clung to the overturned ski and beat the shark off with a paddle. The shark surfaced under the ski. tossing it in the air. Surf club members immediately called all surfers from the water with a siren. Club members on skis attempted a rescue, but were swept off by heavy seas. Finally a member reached the youth and brought him in unharmed.

Watersiders’ Demands in Melbourne. —Work on 50 ships at Melbourne was held up to-day while watersiders conducted a stopwork meeting at which they decided to resume work, but to hold another meeting in three weeks unlegs they were granted pay from 9 a.m. daily, irrespective of what time they begin work. English migrants aboard the liner Ranchi, who haye been held here over the week-end, may now proceed to Sydney.—Melbourne, February 28.