SHARKS’BAY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 10811, 4 February 1929, Page 5

SHARKS’BAY

' A WELL-NAMED LOCALITY

.POPULAR RENDEZVOUS YES-

TEDRDAY’

RUSH TO WITNESS SHARK ' SPEARING : : ;i : -

MR FERRIS HAS BAD LUCK

1 AWAY GETTING BAIT WHEN MONSTERS WERE INSHORE

Never before in itsf history has Sharks' Bay been favored with so many visitors as was the case yesterday, when between /00 and 800 people .flocked there an the hope that they would have the good fortune to see Mr Charlie Ferris spear and land fltill another, of the monster, scavengers of the. sea which frequent that locality in the summer months. Picnic parties began ,to assemble early in the morning and, before noon, the hill slopes and the beacli had: become thickly dotted. At least four sharks! put in an appearance and their audacity in cruising 'so close to the shore created not a little astonishment and excitement 1 . Unfortunately, Mr Ferris was, absent at the'time, he haying gone in quest of tempting bait in the shape of a stingray, than which nothing else is more esteemed by the scaly monsters. For some days, stingrays had nor been as plentiful as usual. On the previous day, Mr Ferris had searched the rocky coast thereabouts in vain. He had even asked friends at Tatapouri to help him out in that respect, but all in vain. Yesterday morning, however, he succeeded in securing a small specimen near the Point and, in addition, he? brought to the scene a hag of meat. In Mr Ferris’ absence, _ several others attempted to deputise. Mr Ben Hart and his mate occasioned the most excitement. A shark came in quite close to the shore on the northern side of the bay' and Mr Hart got within striking distance, but, just as he aimed the .blow, he lost his footing on a slippery rocisy shelf. Others appeared also with formidable weapons, but they had no chance of success on account of having failed to provide themselves with bait.' *

After lunch, the crowd began to get much more numerous. Scores of car-loads of additional visitors turn-, ed up and the' buses also carried heavy loads of passengers. As the afternoon wore on, the scene, indeed, became both bright and animated. Many vantage points on the .hills . were occupied and the seashore cas studded with parties of in- ■ teres ted onlookers.. Down on the beach close _to the water’s! edge stood Mr Ferris and his more intimate acquaintances. His spear, which is so made that it cannot easily be withdrawn, when it is successfully used, and which is attached to a hefty wooden handle was examined by many cnrious eyes. A coil of rope was made fast to the handle. Near at hand .was another length of rope to which was . attached a large Shark hook, baited with fish. The stingray and the other intended tempting morsels lay about. A Native who appeared to be an assistant gripped firmly a. strong pitchfork with straightened prongs. Shortly after 2 o'clock the cry of "There they are I” was raised from the hill-slides and Mr Ferris went oitt- in an effort to entice one or more of the sharks in. He scattered several pieces of bait, which seemed' to disappear in the manner intended, hut none of the monsters of the deep touched the piece of fish in which the hook was encased. The sharks turned out to sea and th'&ir hunter had to cease his ope*«iions. .....

During the remainder of. the afternoon, Mir Ferris waited patiently about, ready at any moment to resume bis quest. But all in vain. On its part, the crowd was on the qui vive all the time. Nobody who was present would return home under the impression. that, the bay did not thoroughly deserve its ugly name for every now and again there, could be seen the tail and dorsal fin of a shark. The monster which was most prominent kept to the south of the bav and, although fairly dose in.-the water in that locality could be seen to be very deep. Mr Ferris was plainly more disappointed than the visitors that it was impossible for him to go out where the shark—a reremaj—was disporting itself, but he assured his friends that he would get about to have plenty of bait for next Sunday and would be prepared to stay on tho beach from early morning till dark in an effort to gain another finny victim to his skill and his courage.