GIANT FISH

Hokitika Guardian, 27 August 1926, Page 4

GIANT FISH

RAYS Bft. ACROSS. ISLAND OF WATER CAY. THE CARIBBEAN, July 1. The rim of the sun had just, risen above tlie ocean when we passed out through a break in the reef to the fishing grounds beyond. The bait had hardly readied the bottom when a heavy pull on the line told its own story. Striking as hard as possiblb, we hauled with all our strength and brought to the surface a beautiful symmetrical fish. As lie lay on tho bottom of the boat tho sun flashed on his scales, salmonpink in colour hut so brilliant that no painter could ever hope to achieve the metallic shimmer and delicate colouring of the red snapper.

Very shortly I had a tremendous bite and the line was torn through unhands. With the line over the gunwlmle I hauled with all my strength and silently we fought out the battle. Suddenly the line went slack, my feet shot from under me on the slippery bottom and I thudded backwards into tho bottom of the boat, soaked to the waist in a pool of sea water mixed with tho blood and sliine of the fish we had caught.

But the fish was still on; he had changed tactics and shot upwards, and the fight went on as doggedly as ever. After a quarter of an hour lie came to the surface—a June fish, with a hideous reptilian head, weighing over 2001 b. Tho others had not been idle, for while I was fighting m.v June fish a tremendous struggle was taking place on two of the other linos, and a rock fish of 901 b.. and a big grouper joined our already heavily laden boat.

Our total bag for three hours weighed over 1,4001 b., all edible fisli, which were split open, salted, and later taken to the nearest mainland town and there sold to the natives.

Rowing out in our dinghy later in the evening and looking down in the water an extraordinary apparition was visible: in shape it resembled bird more than fish. Its enormous wings wore stretched out. while tiie Head had become entagled in the net which we keep permanently set close to the island. It was impossible to free it. so the entire net, together with the creature, had to be towed ashore—a really terrific business 0301 b BAY Bft ACROSS. 'When finally landed it proved to be a leopard or whip ray. It measured from the tip of the nose to the end of its long, whip-like tail, 13Jft. and Bft across the. wings, and weighed 0301 b. The tail of this strange creature was 81ft. in length. Tho strength of its jaws is enormous. Nature has provided the inside of tho mouth with mil,hors capable of such immense power and force that it picks up tho conks (largo sheill fish) and crushes the shell, which it takes a man with a hammer all his strength to break.

The tails of these fish are armed with four long daggers, serrated and barbed on their edges like fish hooks—a. terrible weapon with which to be struck. Strange and remarkable creatures continue to multiply in the preserving tanks the British Museum (Natural History Section) sent out to me. I have just, obtained a crab known as the shy crab. Whenever it is approached it covers its fa.ee completely with its large, flat claws, which fit in so perfectly to the back shell that it becomes indistinguishable from a round piece of coral rock.