FISHING FOR SWORDFISH OFF THE NORTH CAPE 100 YEARS AGO

Northland Age, Volume 6, Issue 29, 9 April 1937, Page 3

FISHING FOR SWORDFISH OFF THE NORTH CAPE 100 YEARS AGO

It may not be generally known

that the Maoris engaged in swordfishing in northern waters before the white men came to these shores. The following account is taken from a description of Samuel Marsden’s second voyage to New Zealand. “We had a near view of the North Cape and soon saw the native fires in different parts of the land. We sailed close in shore all along the North Cape. In a short time we came up with about forty canoes- full of people fishing, to some of whom we spake and were informed that they could not have any communication with us as they were tabooed. They were fishing for none but swordfish, with short lines, and all the fish they caught of this kind is tabooed, and could not be disposed of as they were to be preserved for their winter food. We saw a number of their stages on shore which were erected to dry their fish upon.” It must be remembered that in those days, 1819, there was a large native population in the Far North, and so their many fires could be seen all along the coast.