DEEP-SEA FISHING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20152, 12 January 1929, Page 12

DEEP-SEA FISHING.

BAY OF ISLANDS SPORT. SIR HARRY LAUDER'S PRAISE. EXCITING CAPTURE WITNESSED. [bv telegranr.—own coiuiespon dent.] RUSSELL, Friday. After a week's deep-sea angling off Cape Brett, Sir Harry Lauder, accompanied by his niece, Miss Greta Lauder, is returning to Auckland to-morrow by train. While ho only succeeded in capturing one mako shark, Sir Harry is nevertheless highly enthusiastic over .ie possibilities of the Bay of Islands fishing. In an interview to-day ho declared the "all-weather" aspect of tho angling at the Bay of Islands should be more advertised "You undoubtedly the greatest stretch of game-fish water in the world," he said, "and the most attractive advantage about it is tho fact that shelter from any weather can be found quickly behind the many islands. The sport is therefore rendered absolutely safo. It is not surprising that no accident of any description has occurred during the many years of angling off Capo Brett. Another feature of the sport which is little known is that, if the weather is too boisterous for swordfishing at Cape Brett, thrilling angling may be enjoyed with light rods among tho kingfish in the sheltered areas. With this kingfishing as a sideline, the Bay of Islands offers angling in any weather." Sir Ilarrv is taking home to Scotland the jaws of the 3401b, mako shark he captured last Tuesday. "One mako shark a day is enough for any man," he said in recalling the strenuous fight he had with the game shark. " I have not seen a sword fish taken, but from the displays 1 have seen makos give, 1 imagine they must equal their sworded rivals in fighting qualities. On Thursday afternoon, while wo were fishing off Cape Brett, Captain Orr Ewing, aide-de-camp to His Excellency the Governor-General, and Mr. Wilson, the lighthouse-keeper at Capo Brett, passed in a small open boat. Soon afterward we saw enacted the sort of fish story you hear often but disbelieve. Captain Ewing hooked a mako and it very soon towed their frail craft dangerously near the wash about Piercy Island. Watching him battle with the monster while Mr. Wilson frantically rowed to keep the boat off the rocks alarmed us, so we moved over to them and prevailed upon Captain Ewing to finish the struggle from the comparative safety of our launch. He was anxious to bring the mako alongside the dinghy, as it was his first but unique encounter with a game fish, but eventually he came aboard our boat and after 30 minutes' fighting had the 2501b. shark defeated." The modern comforts of the sporting camp at Otclii Bay and tho typo of launches for hire in tho sport delighted Sir Harry. "it is unfortunate the swordfish are'late this year in coining to the coast, but tho 23 game fish taken already this season in the Bay of Islands give promise of a good season, concluded the noted visitor. "The schools of smaller fish arc on tho increase, and if the present ideal weather continues, good hunting should bo the order of the day." Sir Harry and his niece will stay in Auckland until Tuesday, when they will leave for a two-day visit to Rotorua. They will then return to the salmon fishing in Lake To Anau in tho South Island. Sir Harry hopes to make a concert lour of New' Zealand during April or May before he returns to Scotland.