SHARK IDENTIFIED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23266, 8 February 1939, Page 12

SHARK IDENTIFIED

TAMAKI RIVER CATCH A SHARP-FINNED WHALER CONSIDERED TO BE HARMLESS The large shark -weighing 3601b. which was caught at the mouth of the TamaJri River at the week-end has been identified as belonging to the sharp-finned whaler variety. The shark was identified by Mr. A. W. B. Powell, assistantdirector of the Auckland War Memorial Museum, who said yesterday that--it belonged to the common species found in New Zealand waters, and was considered a harmless variety.

"A grey nurse shark has never been caught in New Zealand waters," Mr. Powell continued. "It is an Australian species found off the coasts of South Wales and Queensland." Mr. Powell said that of the sharks found off the coast of New Zealand, the mako was probably dangerous, although there was no case on record of a mako shark having attacked a swimmer. This variety should be treated with suspicion, however, as its good record was possibly due to the fact that it was a deep-water fish and had not been tempted. People having a swim from a launch in . waters where the mako was known were taking a risk. ' .

The reason for the shark danger ia New South Wales was that the beachos shelved very sharply, he added. Oceanio conditions existed almost right up to the beach, and dangerous sharks, notably the great white, tiger and grey nurse varieties, thus came close inshore, where they were liable to attack swimmers.