AMONG THE SWORDFISH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18631, 12 February 1924, Page 9

AMONG THE SWORDFISH.

SPORT AT MAYOR . ISLAND.

FINE CATCHES SECURED. I EMPIRE EXHIBITION FILMS. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN 20RRESI-OKDENT.] TAURANGA. Monday.' Tho swordfish at Mayor Island annually attract a number of sportsmen. Each year patrons enjoy excellent sport, and this season's operations have been attended with very satisfactory results. Launches are taken from Tauranga, and Mayor Island is mado the base. The power of the swordfish was well exemplified at Mayor Island last week, when several fish put up very game struggles before they went captured. , Exhilirating sport has been enjoyed by Mr. Thomson, (of Epsom) and party who as a result of a few days' fishing, have secured five swordfish off the island. These fish were all caught on the reel, with a Qne lino, and have shown spirited fighting. On Friday last, two swordfish were captured, the biggest fish was caught on Wednesday. Three of the swordfish weighed between 3601b. and 4001b., and the largest was 4501b. The last mentioned was a magnificient specimen. When hooked it gave a great display of jumping, and in its effort® to get rid of the hook leaped at times, ten feet out of the water, and covered 20 feet of the ocean's surface at each leap. The launch was got •under way and the fish which travelled at a very fast speed, was followed for about a mile and a-half. Eventually it was worked closo to the launch, and despatched with a harpoon. It was then pulled aboard. It measured nine feet eight inches in length, with a girth of four feet. Mr. Thomson, who has had considerable experience in swordfishing in other waters, says this fish put up the greatest fight he "has ever witnessedSwordfish are very plentiful in the locality, and two parties which were cruising off Mayor Island yesterday sighted four large fish, ono of which followed a wooden dummy which was being trailed for kahawai for about ten minutes. During the past few days, Mr. C. Morton, Government cinematographer, has been visiting Mayor Island, .ana was successful in obtaining many excellent films of the sport which are to be sent to England, and shown in tho New Zealand section at the Empire Exhibition.