DIVER BADLY INJURED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21793, 7 May 1934, Page 9

DIVER BADLY INJURED

ORDEAL IN DEEP WATER FIERCE ATTACK BY FISH HANDS SEVERELY BITTEN (Received May 6. 5.5 p.m.) ' SYDNEY, May 6 A diver, Mr. H. Locke, was attacked by a mass *of leather-jackets in 45 fathoms of water outside Sydney Heads. He had his hands badly mauled and was hauled to tho surface, where ho screamed with agony and with blood pouring from 42 bites, several of which were so deep that the bones were exposed. In recounting his experience Mr. Locke said: "They came at mo from all sides. One bit one of my hands and as tho blood flowed the fish raced for it pell mell. Tho taste of blood made them more savage and they rushed at mc with amazing fury."

Leather-jackets are members of the family of monacanthidae, which occur in all temperate and tropical seas, but are more plentiful in Australia than elsewhere. As is indicated by their vernacular name they are protected by a tough skin beset with countless minute prickles. A strong spine above the head can be erected and locked in position by bony structures at its base, thus becoming a valuable protection against larger enemies that might wish to swallow the fish. Leather-jackets are well-known to fishermen on account of their habit of nipping lines through with their sharp teeth. These arc remarkably compressed and so disposed toward one another as to form beaklike structures in the jaws.