THE FISHER'S PARADISE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19235, 26 January 1926, Page 6

THE FISHER'S PARADISE.

Iil r FRANK EYRE.

HARVESTS OF MERCURY BAY.

The Mercury Bay area is gaining some public attention since the quest of the sword-fish and mako shark has Whetted the hunting—otherwise sporting—instinct which lies latent within us all. From the Mercury Islands to Tauranga the older-fashioned line fishers drew their catches for many years before the trawl began to find its way along the sea bottom, driving the line fisher from his old haunts. The centre of this great fishing area is Mercury Bay—a beautiful barless harbour—landlocked and secure, with Centre Island, Ohena, Hole-in-the-Wall, Sugar Loaf, and other islets forming a screen seaward. Further down toward Tairua lies Mayor Island, another of the interesting chain with its dense population of mutton birds, and that link with the dim past —the rare tuatara lizard. Schnapper, of course, were the main quest of the old fisherman, and hero her found and gathered his harvest under almost any conditions. But it was not schnapper alone that drew him. Scanning certain landmarks he pushed his small helm this way and that, while a companion stood with the miniature anchor in hand, waiting expectantly. ' Down!" Over went the anchor, and the thin chain paid out with a rattle into deep—very deep—water. The small craft was upon one of the age-old terekihi grounds, where, with shell-fish bait and unbarbed hooks, the toilers might gain their cargo as fast as human hands could draw it in.

In those far-off days the hapuku was not so much sought as a market fish as lie is to-day, but, like the terekihi, he had his defined "grounds;" he has them today and can be caught in single weights ot thirty—forty—and fifty—aye, even up to eighty pounds in weight, by anyone knowing the " line " between the white bluff and the crag on the opposite shore, and the distance along this line to drop anchor. Big Fish. With these three species we practically exhaust the harvest which the older fisherman sought. But those who "loved the sudden jerk of the line, and a hard battle with a big one," could turn their backs on the common harvest and be still surrounded. Across the harbour there was Gurnard Bay, where the vermilionskinned, peacock-winged " grunter " lay on the warm sea bottom in plenty. In between, perhaps, the actions of the seabirds, grey gulls, black-backed gulls, Jack divers, and tern, told of greater things. The kahawai were shoaling. The surface of the water was lashed to foam until an area fully a quarter of a mile square showed no square yard of placid water, arid the screaming sea-birds rose and fell in the white spray unceasingly, until, as if by magic, the sea settled to its natural calm, the surface play of the fish ceased, and the birds dispersed. In the opposite direction lay the silver strip of Cook's Beach, terminating on the eastern side at Shakespeare's cliff, from which the famous navigator made his observations of the transit of Mercury —naming the stretch of landlocked water Mercury Bay. * The wafers in the minor bay are warm and opalescent. A " school" of porpoises, lolling inshore, are basking in the sunlight, much as land animals do. Here and there, on the outskirts of the school, a dorsal fin cleaves the placid water, and the experienced observer knows that the " sea-tiger" is shepherding the school, in search of some nnwary member which has drowsed too long in the warm flood. The tragedy which follows may startle the "school" and send it seaward at express speed toward the mouth of the bay, leaving its mangled member to the mercy of the blue shark.

To these blessed waters has also come the swordfish. Speedy, graceful, and vindictive, he is not a scavenger. Only a study of the science of Isaac Walton's craft could bring him to bay, and when men learn the potentialities of Mercury Bay as a fishing area, then, also, will they learn that the swordfish became wise before them, and discovered this well-stocked feeding ground. ivingfish are here in plenty. With the porpoise, this fish is, perhaps, the most playful of the sea dwellers. I have seen a small school of them at play like kittens with a piece of driftwood, sliding over it, leaping it in good style, and anon tossing it out of the water as it drifted slowly seawards. Here, also, are gurnard, moki, trevalli, john-dory, and every kind of edible fish common to New Zealand waters. Casual Visitors. Occasionally a school of whales or blackfish (lesser whales) may be seen investigating the quiet waters of the bay. I 'nave seen a school of eight lesser whales pass the towr\ship and go into the upper reaches of the river itself. The landlocked bay is an ideal resting place, lying close to the more turbulent "sea tracks,'"' and so we often find the migratory species idling in the bay. Buffalo Beach —where the blackened ribs of His Majesty's old ship can still be seen at low tide—is a popular "suicide ground" for fish given to self-destruction, such as frost fish and horse mackerel. The . latter fish are herded, I believe, into the break by sharks, and sometimes strew the beach as far as the eye can see. On frosty moonlit nights the frost fish come ashore, and dance like animated silver ribbons on the wet sands. It, still remains to be explained why a heavy frost has this effect on those fish. Personally, I believe the frost fish to be a deep-sea dweller. His great eye adapts him to darkened recesses, and though he is occasionallv taken in the trawl, I do not think that he is ever taken in his natural haunts. Perhaps the sudden lowering of the temperature is too far removed from the warmer depths, and drives him shoreward. Thero can be no doubt that a few simple facts explain the reason for the abundance of fish in these waters. The outer waters are deep, and the winter migration need not be a lengthy one. Schnapper can be caught at Mercury Island when all other grounds are barren. Food, in the form of shellfish, is plentiful, and within the river mouth ■ miniature schnapper teem at one period of the year. That shark and swordfish have increased enormously during the last 20 years I have not the slightest doubt. The law that has led mankind through countless ages to follow the food supply, is a law paramount beneath the surface of the waters also. Both shark and swordfish are roamers, which seem to defy even climatic conditions, and having once discovered such a happy hunting ground are not likely to pass" on. The casual visitor becomes a regular one, and must appear in increasing numbers until conditions change and the cour?J of sea evolution scatters the finny horde, driving the more gigantic types into pastures where his requirements can be better satisfied. I have noted the coming and going of different species through many years, and the prevalence of the grev-nurse. to mv mind, is not'nn old fact suddenlv noted, as some aver. !>nt the result of a "common sea law, wliic* shatters the idea of a fixed abode for any species. The studv is a deeply interesting one.