DEVIL-RAY HUNT

Evening Star, Issue 22817, 27 November 1937, Page 2

DEVIL-RAY HUNT

MONSTERS OF THE QUEENSLAND REEF A BLA€K HARPMNER Hunting the devil-ray sounds and can be a dangerous sport, but actually; there is very little risk if one is cautious in attack (writes T. C. Marshall, in the Sydney ‘ Morning Herald ’). Devil-rays are known to attain a width of 22ft; one of only half that width is capable of running away with a small boat or capsizing it. These marine monsters frequent the Queensland coast, usually near rocky headlands and islands.

Recently I visited the Great Barrier Reef to enrich the collection of fishes in the Queensland Museum, and resolved to obtain a giant devil-ray for the purpose of taking notes and measurements from which a life-size model could be constructed later. Everything favoured us when the launch left Lindeman Island—a calm sea and a sun overcast by rain clouds. With the absence of glare, the rays are more easily, seen when a good distance away. Our destination was the rocky shoreline at the northern end of Maher Island. Large devil-rays had been sighted* there, the locality apparently being a favourite feeding ground. Dick and Eddie, or, as they are known in their native tongue, Walit and Nadi, two bronzed and strapping natives of Hammond Island, Torres Strait, beautifully proportioned, of powerful physique, were hardened from months of work on the pearling luggers. Dick was “harpoon man,”Eddie was to take charge of the dinghy when a ray was sighted, rowing close enough to get a strike. BARBED HARPOON. The harpoon is a long shaft, with al steel head loosely fitted to its end. This head has a movable barb fixed in. a slot a few inches from its point. When the harpoon strikes, this movable barb turns on its. centre pivot, forming a. right-angle to the harpoon head and standing out on each side. Thus it forms a cross which prevents it from being pulled out. The handle which! has driven it into the fish floats loose on the water. Attached to the harpoon is_ a strong, light rope coiled neatly in the bottom of the dinghy. When a strike is made great care is taken to ensure the uninterrupted running out of the rope; any sudden stoppage may pull dinghy and occupants under before the rope could be cut. On the other hand, it may foul the leg of the harpooner and take him “ down below.”

Eddie, the oarsman, has a job no less important than the harpooner’s. He has to keep the dinghy’s head in the proper direction until the monster settles down to the long tow, when he ships oars and off they go. “Devil-rays ahead!” the look-out man shouts. Pulses leap, and all eyes follow his pointing finger. The untrained eye is slow to pick up the movements on the water far ahead. The engine is slowed, and the launch creeps towards the spot. Suddenly to the right three large devil-rays gambol. The engine is stopped, and the dinghy with the tWo “ boys ” on hoard draws away quietly, toward the quarry. Any noise will frighten the rays and cause them to sound. Dick has taken up his position on the bow, where he stands with harpoon at the ready, the line lying along the shaft, and firmly gripped in his right hand. Slowly Eddie manoeuvres the dinghy closer. The black tips of huge pectoral fins cut the water as they turn, now towards the boat, now away. The harpooner is leaning hack for the throw, muscles taut, his body rigid as iron. Too quickly for the eye to follow, the harpoon crashes deep into a ray, and the splash which follows tells the tale of its unerring throwing. The flying line races over the gunwale as yard upon yard is taken by the frantic fish. Dodging the rope, Dick, with swift skill, takes his seat in the rocking dinghy, ready to put a brake on the slowing line, and to prepare for the long tow. The launch engine begins to chug against the need to be handy in case of trouble. Someone yells:] “They’re off!” The dinghy . speeds away as though driven by a powerful motor, Dick leaning back for dear life and gripping with both hands the line ahead, which is as taut as a violin string. Suddenly they stop, the Una slackens, they tug, and yell their disappointment.

” GOOD FIGHTER.” Silently they pass up the harpoon for inspection. It has been bent almost to a right-angle. The devil-ray had probably sounded, and, turning on to its back, had rubbed the harpoon out.The boys grin philosophically. “He good fighter,” they say, and estimate the escapee at 15ft or 16ft wide. With a spanner the harpoon is straightened enough to permit a second try. Luck is in. Before long Dick hurls that deadly shaft again, and yells exultantly. Before we can * start our engine they are away. We hurriedly; follow. A bow-wave swirls as theytear along at 12 knots; the launch can do only 10. They travel in a wide arc,and at last slow. The fight has lasted 25 minutes by the watch. The ray stops dead and Dick quickly coils in yards of line, but the catch “ recover* his wind,” and the boy sits down abruptly as the boat jumps from under him. This spurt is only short, however, as the giant ray is worn out and exhausted. Very little line is out, and as there is no danger of the ray fouling the propeller, w© run in close to watch the last stages of the fight. Two fathoms under water a hug* creature, jet-black, and with two long,curling horns on its flattened head,swims slowly past the launch, its fin* like the outstretched wings of a giant bat. As the last of the line comes in. it turns upside down, exposing a creamy-white under-surface. Quick »« flashes, two large sucking-fish detach themselves and swim underneath. Theso curious fellows attach themselves _to their hosts by means of sucking disc* on the top of their head, gaining transportation with a minimum of effort, and incidentally sharing the titbit* from their host’s meals. The hunt was over. This devil-ray was a male, and measured Bft across th* body. At first glance th© mouth appeared to be without teeth, but in th* lower jaw were hundreds of tiny, flat,-pavement-like teeth covered over withskin. 'Hie stomach contained thousand* of tiny marine organisms known as plankton, the animals feeding wholly upon this microscopic food, which they obtain by swimming with their largs mouths open, allowing the sea water t<» escape through the big gill-slits, but retaining the food. Devil-rays are quite harmless and will not attack anyone, and it is to be boned that they will nob be wantonly nvdested. -So little is known about this interesting spe-ie* that I felt justified in takingWne life of one to clear up some of the %iw£ie*«