SHARK FISHING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17826, 7 January 1920, Page 4

SHARK FISHING

AN AUCKLAND INDUSTRY. MATAKANA A BREEDING GROUND. (Fhom Oob Own Cobeesfondent.) AUCKLAND, January 6. Shark fishing as an industry is carried on to a certain extent at Matakana, about 40 miles north of Auckland. Even in preEuropean days the coast in this locality was noted for its infestment by sharks, and tho name Matricaria, which means "putrid fish," is said to havo been given to it by tho Maorja from a malodorous stench arising from the practice of drying on tho beach catches taken from tho prolific waters of tho coast. The reason for the abundance ot the fish at certain seasons of the year is that they swarm into tho shallow water off 'Matak.ina for breeding purposes in the summer months, and then readily fall a prey to fishermen. Some years ago a factory was opened in the district with tho object of extracting oil from the livers of sharks for medicinal uses, and rendering down tho oarcases to convert them into fertiliser. Fins were saved and dried for exportation to the Far East,, where they axe esteemed a delicacy by Chinese* epicures. Tho factory at present ia idle, but tho industry of oil extraction and the export of fins, and tho use of flesh as a fertiliser, is still carried on by Mr Fred Green, a Bottler in the district, and in a smaller degree by other farmers. The present is tho time of the year when the sharks abound at Matakana flats. An Auckland visitor to the district during the holidays witnossed the capturo of several formidable fish, 9ft and 10ft in length, and an Mr Green's expeditions for manufacturing purposes it is not uncommon to aecure from 100 to 150 in a day, mostly of large dimensions. In securing them stout Manila lines are used, -with strong hooks, and tho lure is generally the flesh of kaliawai. To attract the fish it is usual to squeeze out on tho surface of the water a quantity of oil from the livers of previously caught sharks, an expedient which seldom fails to bring to the locality some of tho largest scavengers lurking in the neighbourhood. In the oase of tho largest fish, it is usual to play them for some time, occasionally hauling them up to the boat's side and there hitting them upon tho snout -with a heavy mallet, until they are sufficiently exhausted to be ultimately kept alongside and dispatched with a knife. Smaller sharks, say of 4ft or sft), can safely be brought into a boat at the first haul, and there put out of misery with a mallet.