SHARK-INFESTED WATERS

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 98, 20 January 1926, Page 8

SHARK-INFESTED WATERS

FIFTEEN-FOOTER CAUGHT IN HAURAKI GULF

PARTY OF BATHERS ATTACKED

Bx Telegham—Special CorbXsPonDENt Auckland, January 19.

A record so far as the inner waters of Hauraki Gulf are concerned is claimed for a female shark caught recently near Maraetai. The fish was 15ft. Sin. long. Its girth was Gft. 4in. and its tail measured 3ft. 2in. across. It was carrying 28 young. This shark was the twenty-eighth of over 4ft. in length caught by the same fishermen this summer.

While fishing from the beach at Sandspit on Hauraki Gulf, near Clcvedon, David Cashmore landed a shark Oft. in length. Settlers in the district say that they have never seen such a large shark so close in shore before. A resident of ToAroha writes:—-"I have just returned from a flying visit to Bucklands beach to bring back some people who have been staving there. I believe it to be my dutv to bring to your notice an episode that, took place while the party was having a final swim. I have seen articles warning bathers to be careful owing to the number of sharks that are at present infesting the waters of the gulf, but I think that this.is the first instance of anyone being attacked by one of these monsters. The party, comprising two women, three men, and two children, have had an experience that they will long remember. “Two of us and the children were in the water waist deep nlaving with a ball. What was our. dismay when we found a shark beside us making for a child. The shark made a direct attack and only just missed. the arm of one of the men. I believe the only thing that prevented a fatality was the shallowness of . the water. . I think the shark struck the bottom as it turned to take the man as he was protecting the child.. We saw no more of the shark after the episode, but we were all so shaken and busy getting out of the water that we never thought of watching whether it made right off or not.”