ADVENTURE WITH A SHARK.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7743, 14 May 1887, Page 5

ADVENTURE WITH A SHARK.

We have heard of an adventure with a shark at Black Point, on Saturday, 12th Maroh, which is worth noting, and should operate aa a warning to nil yachtsmen to bo careful in dealing with sharks. It appears that on the evening in question Mr Justice Boucaut was Waning Jp hiß dingy ou the well-known grounds at Blaok Point, but without much sport save in small sharks and dog sharks. Towards evening Mr Boucaut started for the yacht, sitting in tho stern sheetß of the dingy wiih his yachtmaater (Mr H. Harris) rowing. One of the sharks which they had hooked, about 4ft or sft long; having ! got away by bnaking the hoolf, tho judge was relating to hia man that he ought to havo followed the advice given him by Mr Justice Bundoy several yeara ago, never to fish iv a dingy at Black Point without a riUe or a buy one t, and was relating or had just ri'litnd what led to that advic, namely, that lie had seen Mr Justice Bundey's dingy towed about by a shark in that particular spot, when Mr Boucaut received a very sarere blow in the hollow of the back, which knocked him off the seat over the nfter-thwart of the dingy ou to the man who was rowing. The paddles wero unshipped from the rowlocks, and the boat sent forward with a sharp spin. Seizing a paddla and turning round Mr Bouoaut just saw a large shark disappear with a heavy flap of his tail on the surface of the water, which is thereabouts only 6ft or 7ft deep. Whether the blow which the judge received came directly from tho shark or indirectly through the stern of the dingy, he cannot, we believe, cay ; but the sound of the blow on the wood, aud the splashing in tho water, were something to be remembered, evon without counting the blow actually received by his Honor. At the momeut Mr Boucaut thought the blow was given by the tail of the shark iv the attempt to sweep him overboard, which would have beeu cortainly done if it had been aide ways instead of end on, but Mr Harris thinks the blow canie from the head of the shark while it was attempting to seize either the judge or the dingy with his teoth. Thia latter is the more probable, as the scratches of three or four teeth are visible on the dingy's stern. The adventure if remarkable not only bocauao of tho very strange coincidence that the attack happened just after Mr Boucaut waa relating Mr Justice Buudoy's adventuro and advice, but ulso because it ia not oftou that attacks by a shark on a boat are so well authenticated. Thia adventuro Bhould be a herions warning to yachtsmen to follow Justice Buudey's udvici 1 , and should also warn them to adopt the further advico given by him never tv drag their hands in the water as they frequency do from their dingiei', unleaa it la diy light, and they cnn see well about them. On one occasion a shark made a snap at Mr Jiutice Bundey's hand wlieu in the water.