FISHERMAN'S ADVEMTURE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 41, 18 February 1908, Page 3

FISHERMAN'S ADVEMTURE.

Christopher Richards, jun., a fisherman at Port Arlington (Victoria) had an unpleasant experience with a shark just before sunset, the oihei evening. He was in his boat in tho We&t Channel, about twelve miles north-oast of the Portarlington pier, fishing for large snapper. He hooked a fish, and as he brought it to the surface it was taken by a large shark. Again the fisherman hooked a large fish, and by manoeuvring got the snappor into the boat. „ As ho did so bo noticed a shark moving -towards the boat rapidly. Thon he' 'felt a' shock. Richards was knockod down, but quickly recovering himself ho saw a shark, about 18ft. long, swinunina around billing tho water with his tail and .sending forth showers of > spray. lie ran forward to lift tho anchor. As he did so, tho ehark made a savago attack on tho flag at. tached to tho "tripping" line. Tins lino 13 connected with the anchor, and shoulci the anchor become foulj nnd tl)e boatman unablo to raise it, ho unloosens Ins main cable, and tho "tripping" Imo aud flag denotes tho spot where the anchor was lost The shark carried the rod flag away and snapped the stick. Richards raised his anchor and set bail for Portarlington. On arrival he was very much qpsot by the shock and his exciting experience. The boat waes beached, and it >vas found tho shark had struck the boat fair ou the keel, close to the stern post, and had sprung a couplo ol planks.