FIGHT WITH SHARK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22071, 29 March 1935, Page 8

FIGHT WITH SHARK

(FISHERMEN'S VICTORY

[FIERCE DASH FOR FREEDOM

BOAT TOWED FOR FOUR MILES

A 10-foot shark towed a boat containing two men more than four miles at Port Hacking recently before it became exhausted and was killed with a butcher's knife.

Constable Alfred McNamara and Mr. Norman Harper, both of Sutherland, rowed to a place off Lilli Pilli to fish for blackfish. On two previous days they had. caught 22 and 16 large fish. One of them hooked a fish within a few minutes, and drew it to the surface of the' water. Then there was a flurry as a fin cut through the water. The fish and part of the line were taken by a shark.

This was repeated about a dozen times. Nearly every time the whole fish was taken, but three fish were bitten across and their heads were pulled into the boat. Constable McNamara eventually succeeded in pulling a blackfish weighing about three-quarters of a pound into the boat. The two men became disgusted and decided that they would use their solitary catch in an attempt to hook the shark. About a dozen sharks had passed their boat, - but it was apparent that the fish had all been taken by one, which had waited under the boat until it heard the hooked blackfish splashing, and had then seized them. Constable McNamara improvised shark tackle. A large hook was baited with the blackfish and tied to a piece of wire, which in turn was tied to the kellick rope. The rope was secured to a boat seat and the bait was thrown out. The blackfish struggled feebly on the surface of the water for about three minutes before it was taken by the shark.

The shark raced away, towing the boat. In the first dash the occupants of the boat estimated that it dragged them at the rate of at least 12 miles an hour. Then the pace slackened and the shark towed the boat at a steady rate for two miles into Gunnamatta Bay. They had almost reached Cronulla, when the shark began to retrace its coursed It was evidently tiring. Several times the monster turned and made dashes at the boat. Water was thrbwu over the two occupants. After another mile, the shark rested close to the boat. Constable McNamara struck it with a large knife. The shark thrashed water and sprayed the boat.

The shark was tiring quickly. Off Ship ltock it made for shallow water and rested in about ]Bin. of water at the edge of a little beach. The two men jumped out of the boat and dragged the shark partly out of the water. Then they killed it with their knife.