NETTING OF SHARKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20538, 12 April 1930, Page 8

NETTING OF SHARKS.

CATCHES NEAR SYDNEY*

ABOUT 150 EVERY WEEK.

A thrilling demonstration of netting sharks was given by Shark Fisheries, Limited, near Sydney Heads, recently. The crew of the vessel Alpha revealed their methods by hauling in two nets set at sea, one near the southern headland of Manly, and the other in Fairy, Bower Cove, each containing huge and varied specimens of sharks.

The company regards 150 sharks, each over Bft ljj length, a good catch each week, rho crew's best catch on April was a monster whaler shark, weighing about 6001b. It was 12ft. long. Tlie nets, each 1000 ft. long, arfl weighted at the bottom and kept in a vertical position by means uf hollow glass balls, placed at short intervals along the top, and are anchored at each end. The first in the haul mentioned were two angel sharks, fiat-bodied fish, resembling to some extent stingrays and skate, a number of which were caught also. Then a fine specimen of tho wobbegong shark was hauled aboard by the winch. It was beautifully marked; its skin will prove valuable for fancy leather goods.

to) lowing the wobbegong was a maneater—,i grey nurse—9ft. in length, its ferocious jaws filled with long, sharp, evil-looking teeth. More angel sharks and several stingrays completed the first haul. Ihe only captive in the second net was a small fiddler.

The manager of the company, Mr. G. T. Russell, explained that at tho company's factory the hides were made into leather, valuable oils were extracted, the fins and tails were prepared for export to China, where they were regarded as a delicacy, and foods for poultry and stock and fertilisers were manufactured. Even tho eyes were treated and sent) to Paris for the making of fancy goods. In some parts of the world shark oil was used to replace cream in the skimmed milk for calves, which grew into oven better-developed .animals than if they had been j;iven the natural food*