SHARKS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 47, 25 February 1937, Page 6

SHARKS

ATTACKS ON HUMAN

BEINGS

DANGEROUS WHEN HUNGRY

Fortunately, few bathing fatalities have ever taken place off New Zealand beaches. This certainly is remarkable when one considers the large amount of surfing and beach bathing that goes on throughout the summer months when sharks come close to land in pursuit of food. The fact is that sharks rarely attack the human spacies, and then only when very hungry. As David G. Stead, the great Australian writer on fish, says: "It is only the hungry—the very hungry—shark which will attack man. The trouble is you do not know which shark is hungry until too late."

The general opinion in Australia is that there are only one or two species of shark which will attack bathers on

their beaches; but in open waters probably quite a number of sharks are dangerous. Recent occurrences of sharks in Wellington Harbour are of interest, as at least one species with a reputation far from good has lately wade its appearance. ■ This is a young tiger shark, Galeocerdo sp. This shark is easily recognised by the peculiar serrated teeth in the upper jaw. These teeth were made into knives by many Pacific races—Polynesian and Melantsian.

Apart from dogfishes or small members of the great shark family which grow up to 3 or 4ft long and come inshore to chase herrings, there are two large species of shark not uncommonly found in the harbour. There are the basking shark, .Cetorhinus maximus, and the- seven-gilled shark, Notorhynchus pectorosus. During warm summers the basking sharks appear to follow migrating shrimps and other small food down the coasts of the North Island and some have been captured in the harbour. These inoffensive sharks like to lie on the surface in the sun and are dangerous only

when molested; then they will very readily capsize a boat or attack a fisherman. Some little time ago a basking shark from Waikanae Beach was secured by the Dominion Museum. A; cast is being prepared for exhibition. The seveh-gilled shark is reputed to be dangerous; but, actually, it appears to avoid man. It is the ferocity of this, species when hooked that has gaine^ for it a reputation; and always it is1 landed with difficulty. It lives on: fishes, large and small, and, like the basking shark, is found in most seas of the world. Odd examples are caught in the harbour or outside it. Usually, those are sevcn-gilled sharks engaged in eating fishes already caught in set nets.

The tiger shark above-mentioned was caught by Mr. A. Fishburn in a net that he had set off Ward Island. Mr. Fishburn presented the species to the Dominion Museum; and a cast of it should appear on exhibition at no very distant date. The net in which this uionster fish was caught was torn to pieces by his struggles.