FIGHT WITH A SAWFISH.

North Otago Times, 5 December 1908, Page 2 (Supplement)

FIGHT WITH A SAWFISH.

A MONSTER OF ELEVEN FEET".

Mr. Arthur Hewett, an enthusiastic sea angler tells c* an' excitingexperience he and a friend have recently had out tarpon fishing from a skill on the Florida Keys. Several times Mr. ITewett bad had his line broken by some big fish, and he was particularly anxious to capture his finny outwitter. _ "On the end/' says he, "of the ordinary tarpon rig I placed a larger nook, bent on to wire,'baiting with half a good-sized fish. ' I flung tho bait overboard and watched events.

"No sooner had the lino settled down than a tremendous shock went through the gear, showingi me that I was already *in it.' My companion immediately pulled up tho anchor for with the terrific commotion and strnjrirle some monster relentlessly carried us seaward.

"I settled tiown to the steady struggle, letting out one moment 100 yards of line, and the next reeling in ami keeping the strain steady. "An hour;had gone by, and I was becoming weary with the battlo.

" 'You've got au immense sawfish: let s stick to her, and make a new record,' said my friend. Another-half-hour. 'Darkness', .now settling down, and the others of our party, coining back from their fishing, ar* rived just in time to help, Still wo struggled on; It seemed that tlio chances for supremacy was with llio fish. I'irst, ns 1 gathered him in nearer to (he boat, we tried harpooning, but his shark-like hide resisted our efforts. Tt was 'then devised to get n circular noose of heavy rope around the jagged teeth of the saw.' This was successful, and the next time the fish rose near the surfaro we were able, in its fatigued condilion, to lasso.it, .The terrific strur**gle when the heavy rope made taut -was exciting to a degree; but man was conqueror, and after a few vio-' lent blows with the handle of an oar uo rowed the fish to our boat and photographed it the next morning. It measured a full lift.",