SHARK SCORES VICTORY.

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 36, 12 February 1936, Page 9

SHARK SCORES VICTORY.

But big-game sportsmen need not go so far from Sydney to get thrills. Shark-fishing, of course, lacks, the excitement of playing a breaching swordfish, but a party of three well-known Sydney citizens had all the excitement and hard work they desired off Sydney Heads last Sunday. A nine-hours struggle, which tested almost to the limit the strength and endurance of the three men, resulted in victory for a shark.

The president of the Light Car Club (Mr. Gordon Allman), who was accompanied by the captain of the club (Mr. Keith Dalziel) and Mr. Keith Watson, hooked'the shark at 2.45 p.m. Suddenly the reel screeched as the shark, after taking the bait, made a 200yds run. After about two hours the oord was reeled in till the double line, Axtending to about 50 feet from the stetM trace on the hook, came into sight, and the gaff and gun were prepared for service. Then the reel commenced another shrill crescendo, the line ran out to its full length of: 600 yards, and the boat was hurriedly turned to relieve the strain. Physically exhausted as the fight went on, Mr. Allman eventually handed the rod and line to Mr. Dalziel. By 9 p.m. the second fisherman gave up the struggle. With a squall beating up from the north-east, and heavy rain falling, Mr. Watson took his turn. He brought the double.line in sight time i\nd time again, but the shark as often lunged away. At midnight it seemed that at least three more hours would be necessary to decide the issue, and it was decided to cut the line and claim a record for "the one that got away."