PLATYPUS-BEAKED SHARK

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27874, 24 January 1956, Page 16

PLATYPUS-BEAKED SHARK

Former Fisherman’s Quest EXPEDITION PLANNED TO KERMADEC TRENCH “The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND, January 23 If an expedition planned by a former commercial fisherman, Mr G. H. Davis, of Papakura, is successful, New Zealand soon may present the scientific and zoological world with a completely new subject for study—a black shark with a beak similar to that of a platypus, a mouth set back on top of the body, crescent-shaped fins from the tail to just behind the mouth, and a skin which resembles black velvet. Several specimens, which averaged three feet six inches long, were caught by Mr Davis about 15 years ago on the fringes of the deep Kermadec Trench, which stretches from the Kermadec Islands to. Palliser Bay. He had no use for them and, not realising their scientific value, tossed them overboard. The zoology department of Victoria University College organised an expedition to the Kermadec Trench last month to get specimens. Mr Davis was a member. Before proceeding north to the area where the black shark exists, the expedition ship, Kotuku, dropped lines in deep water off Bare Island, a few miles south of Cape Kidnappers, and captured four perlons, a type of shark seldom seen by scientists, but often caught in the past by Mr Davis. These were later forwarded to the Dominion Museum. The leader of the expedition. Mr J. Garrick, junior lecturer in zoology at Victoria University College, fell ill, so that the expedition was unable to complete its mission. It returned to Napier, where Mr Garrick was admitted to hospital. As far as Mr Davis knows, perlons are. of value only to scientists. The expedition made its captures in 200 fathoms of water about 50 miles south-east of Napier, directly off Bare Island. When Mr Davis first became acquainted with them he was fishing for bass and ling. Bass are members of the groper family and weigh up to 150 pounds.