SHARK INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20307, 15 July 1929, Page 12

SHARK INDUSTRY.

SUCCESS IN AUSTRALIA

BRIGHT FUTURE PREDICTED

"The future of the shark industry in Australia is bright, and it should be given every encouragement," said Mr. T. C. Koughley, of the Technological Museum, when speaking at a meeting of the Royal Society of New South Wales recently. "Xot only is it a new industry, which should therefore be encouraged, but its success means lessening the shark menace to surf bathers." •

The lecturer pointed out'that although inanv sharks migrated a great number remained in one locality for a protracted period, and so could be practically exterminated by competent shark fishers. One important result would be tlio destruction of the greatest enemies of food fish. Mr. Koughley detailed the methods of shark fishing used by a company which is operating with success in Australian waters. As the industry extended, ho said, it would be found convenient to discard a land base in favour of a mothership, which could be moved from place to placo as tho shark trawlers depicted successive areas. Shark leather, Jlr. Koughley said, had been proved to lie of groat uso commercially, since it is quite as pliable as other leathers, and yet, being vory hard, did not show scratches. It has been used for shoes, handbags, wallets, tobacco pouches and similar articles, and has been found to wear far better than other leather.

"When tho industry is firmly established," concluded tho lecturer, "it will bo found moro profitablo to work in northern tropical waters, where the sharks aro very much bigger than on the New South Wales coast."