A RECORD MAKO

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 82, 8 April 1931, Page 11

A RECORD MAKO

ZANE GREY'S COMMENT

CLUB IN REPLY,

A reply to information supplied to Mr. Zano Grey regarding the catching by Mr. Whito-Wiekham. of a world's record mako. shark, weighing 7S9lb, at. the Bay of Islands, has been anything but pleasing to members of the Bay of Islands Swordfish and Mako Shark Club. In his letter to the club, Zane Gray, writing from Tahiti, stated that somo anonymous person Lad sent-him a cable about Mr. Whito-Wickbam's record. "This is very flattering to me," added Mr. Grey, '■'although I auspect that Mr. White-Wiekham, is at the bottom of it. He is to bo congratulated on securing such a magnificent fish. The mako is peculiar to New Zealand waters, and can be harpooned under club rules. His record is incontestable, but no American angling authority, if ho knew that a. harpoon was used, would recognise the record or that the mako was fairly caught. Most of the groat American 'fishing clubs would disqualify the fish if there was a Harpoon in the boat. This might not interest you in the least, but it ought to- be instructive." ■ . The Bay of Islands Club has replied to Mr. Grey, stating that the cable Avas sent by the club's secretary as an act of courtesy, in, the belief that Mr. Grey would be pleased and interested. The club's reply proceeds: "As far as we arc aware, Mr. White-Wickham. had nothing to. do with sending .the cable. Although suggestions from overseas anglers, are. welcome, it does not follow that the angler putting forward the suggestions has the right to dictate to the club what conditions or rules an angler must comply with in order to bo entitled to a certificate. Any angler whoi lauds a fish in strict compliance with the club's rules is within his rights in claiming a record, as would an angler from any of the big fishing clubs." A prominent Auckland angler, with a. wide experience of big game fishing at the Bay of Islands, said that the use of: a harpoon in New Zealand waters was a bone of contention. The harpoon might be barred by the big American fishing clubs, as had been pointed out by Mr. Zanc Grey, but there they did not have to fight niakos, which Mr. Grey, from his experience in New Zealand, had described as an incredible fish. The harpoon was not. used on swordfish at Russell. It was used on mako alone. He did not think that a ■realty big- mako could be hold on a gaff, although he was prepared to make a trial when the chance came. AVhcn a swordfish came to the boat it was usually practically done, but it was at the boat that the mako began to make his real fight. The mako was a dangerous fish, devastating and fearless. The Aucklander said that although the world's record mako to date weighed 7S9lb, there- were much larger mako in the sea. On Mr. Grey's last trip to the- Bay of Island liis party saw a dorsal fin, and they judged the mako to be in the vicinity of 10001b. This season a huge mako had been seen off Capo Brett by a number of visiting anglers, but none of them could induce it to* take a bait. It was considered that this fish weighed anything, from 10001b to 15001b. On one occasion it cruised close to the Cape, and was watched by the lighthousekoepors. The Aucklander sa.id that Mr. Grey had been a little unfortunate in his references to New Zealand anglers. "We don't mind being classed as amateurs," he said, "but there is resentment at Mr. Grey's suggestion of bad sportsmanship."