MONSTER SHARK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22839, 21 September 1937, Page 10

MONSTER SHARK

LONG FIGHT FOR LIFE HUNTERS' ADVENTURE I • DRAGGED FOR 100 MILES U HOURS IN DINGHY By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received September 'JO, <">.s p.m.) LONDON. Sept. 20 The story of how some shark hunters who harpooned a gigantic baskipg shark in the Firth of Clyde were dragged for 24 hours in a dinghy, covering an estimated distance of 100 miles, is related by members of the party. They had been cruising for a fortnight in a converted Admiralty patrol boat, the Myrtle, in tho hope of securing a basking shark to enable an analysis to be made with a view to discovering whether a Scottish industry could be established for the distillation of shark liver oil. The hunters in tho forenoon harpooned from tho dinghy a shark more than 30ft. long and estimated to weigh 10 tons. Tho shark, dragging the dinghy,'set off at a tremendous speed, zigzagging and circling repeatedly and frequently endangering tho three occupants of tho dinghy. The Myrtlo followed closely and the battle was continued in brilliant moonlight. Dawn saw tho leviathan still struggling for its life.

Firo then broke out on the Myrtle and when the flames were extinguished the dinghy had disappeared. The Myrtle fruitlessly searched for the boat and warned shipping to bo on tliG lookout for it. Three aeroplanes and a lifeboat joined in the search. Eventually at mid-day the crew of the lifeboat found the dinghy. The shark wa;> exhausted. The occupants of the dinghy had refused a passing vessel's ntfer to take them off as it would have meant abandoning their prize. They decided to buoy the shark, as neither the dinghy nor the lifeboat could tow it.

The Myrtle then went out to recover the shark.

The hunters included Dr. Geoffrey Seeeombe Hett, a famous consulting surgeon, who attended Queen Mary in 1929.