DEEP-SEA PISHING

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 36, 11 August 1927, Page 13

DEEP-SEA PISHING

ZANE GRIHY IN THE PACIFIC

Tiie two expert swordfish launchinen, Mr. Peter AVilliams and Mr. Francis Arlidge, whom Mr. Zane Grey took to the Society Islands to fish for big game fish, have arrived back in Kussell. They joined Mr. Grey's schooner, the Fisher--111 an, at, Papeete, in. June, and anchored about three miles from the town. There they secured a fine sailfish. They also hooked a marlin swordfish, but lost it. The marlin are the same shape and colour as the black marlin on the New Zealand coast, but the sword is longer. The sclnoouor then went to an anchorage about .35 miles from Papeete. There the party had better luck, securing nine marlin, numbers of tuna up to 501b weight, amd numbers of dolphin ranging up to 451b weight. These fish give excellent sport on light tackle, and are very fast ill the water.

During :thcir short stay at that anchorage (states the Russell correspondent of thtt Auckland "Herald"), members of the party secured over 50 marlin, but bqing the off season there was a scarcity of bait. During the season the natives can. supply plenty of bonUn, which is the- principal bait for the big game ifisli.

C.-ipi.-iia Mitrhell hooked and played a niarl'm. ;i different species from 'the New Zea'jaud fish. It was about 18ft long, and i he weight was estimated at more than 0501b. Captain Mitchell had it on the hc>ok for two and a half hours, but. it then: broke a strong rod, and the •iingler nearly lost his HOOyds of line. They got a oiother rod out,, made the lino fast, and a few minutes after this enormous iish broke away with about 000 yds of Sine.

Mr. Z.-nuj Grey also hooked a b)> broadbill, and it broke away He is coming out-to New Zealand again about November, 1028, and expects to do about four months' fishing. The two Russell launehmcn enioyed the tnp,_luit they say they prefer" New Zealand for. the big game fishing.