ANTARCTIC FISHERS.

Mataura Ensign, 24 May 1909, Page 4

ANTARCTIC FISHERS.

Professor David (geloogist to Ihe Antarctic expedition) was a guest of the Amateur Fishermen's Association in Sydney last week at their annual dinner. Naturally speakers devoted considerable attention to the subjects ol' lish and the fishing industry. Professor David said that there was no doubt that the waters of the Antarctic Ocean teemed with animal life in which lis!) was largely represented. All the lisii that, the party were abe to catch were not. only ediblji but uncommonly good eating. Professor David went on to explain that by means of an ingenious trap devised by Mr Douglas Mawson they were, able, by baiting with seal (lesh, to make very fine catches. 'I bis means, however, entailed considerable labor, as it meant breaking through lift or 7ft of ice. There were some very large fish, remarked Hie professor, which were formidable indeed. Some of the party had a somewhat terrifying experience with killer whales. A few members of tlie expedition found themselves alloat on an ice Hoe drifting out to the open sea. To add to the dramatic situation the Hon was surrounded by a number o! these killers. Fvery now and again one of these monsters would view the castaways with glassy eve- as tliev nose I aroviniLthe edge of the tl<>e. It was disconcerting in the extreme, said Professor David, for if they did not ealch seals they would not turn their noses up at man. They had an opportunity once of watching one of these killer whales grab at an unusupectiug seal on a flue. The huge teeth, however, only grasped the fur ; but, added the professor, when the seal sized up the situation it did one of the fastest quarter-miles inland on record for an Antarctic handicap.