DIVERS IN PERIL

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 4281, 22 September 1936, Page 2

DIVERS IN PERIL

ATTACK BY SHARK GRIM UNDERWATER DRAMA Wild animal collectors seldom delegate their work to others. But some jobs can only be done by experts, writes Craven Hill, F.Z.S., noted British naturalist. Take those beautiful little orangehanded coral-fish that adorn so many aquarium exhibition tanks. These fish live mostly in the Dutch East Indies and cannot be caught in nets or submerged traps, because they seldom leave the bottom of the sea. They must be taken by hand —and native divers of lifelong experience and exceptionally strong physique are required for the job. Coral fish are found inside large seaanemoiies that grow upon the sea bed, or attached to some coral reef, often at

a depth of 20ft or 30ft. To obtain them a native diver, swimming to the bottom, grabs the first anemone he spots, wrenches it up by the roots, and rises to the surface, where he tosses his prize into a waiting surf-boat. WELL PAID FOR RISKS. In the boat the anemone is plunged into a small tank and gently opened. If the diver’s luck is in, one or more coral fish will lie found inside. They are well paid, these divers not so much for what they bring to the surface as for the risks they run. Not long ago one man all but lost his life while catching coral fish. He had just dived when his companions in the small surf-boat saw a shark cruising round in circles, close to the surface. Unable to warn their friend, who might rise at any moment, they -grabbed their spears and stood with weapons poised, ready for the fateful moment.

Almost immediately the diver broke the water. Realising his danger, he threw an arm frantically over the side of the boat. The shark came at him like a torpedo. The watchers above had a momentary vision of a long, pale green stomach as the big fish swung over on its flank to attack. As one man, the natives hurled their spears. Their aim was true; the weapons drove down into the shark’s flesh. There was a violent splash as the brute’s tail smote the surface. The little craft rocked like a feather. The shark sank from view. Next moment the diver collapsed on the floor of the boat. But next day he was out diving

again. The large green turtle of the West Indies is also often caught by hand. Only the skill and superb courage of the native diver are equal to the task. In one aquarium in England to-day is a turtle whose capture involved a particularly terrifying ordeal. LONG-BLADED KNIFE. it was caught among the coral reefs to the north of Jamaica. While the diver, who had hung on grimly till it was exhausted, was roping it, ready to be hauled on board, he felt himself gripped firmly by one ankle. Glancing down through the limpid water, he saw the vague, shadowy shape of an octopus, or “ devil-fish,” as the native divers call it. The diver had met devil-fish before. He knew

that to struggle, or try to kick himself free, was useless. Seizing the long-bladcd knife which a companion thrust into his outstretched hand, ho ducked down and slashed furiously at the long, entwining tentacles which, armed with deadly suckers, sought to drag him down. Time and again the keen-bladed weapon struck at the loathsome coils. Close beneath the diver soukl see the large, evil eyes of the octopus, staring up at him unwinkingly through the water.

At length one tentacle was entirely severed, and the diver felt the dread suckers release their hold. He was free at last.

Next moment he was in the boat, helping to drag the turtle over the side.