GIANT STINGRAY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19952, 20 November 1926, Page 10

GIANT STINGRAY.

EYTEAPPED IN BATHS

FRANTIC EFFORTS AT CAPTURE.

FOUND DEAD BY DIVER. (Feom Otjb Own Coeeespondent.) SYDNEY, November 11. A great amount of fuss has been madt of one stingray in Sydney recently. Cer* tainly it was no ordinary stingray. la the first place he was a giant, measuring Bft 6in long by 6ft wide. In the second place he was placed in most extraordinary circumstances —circumstances, indeed, which compelled more limelight to be thrown upon him than a dozen theatrical stars. While the Domain Baths, the city’s principal enclosed swimming pool, were being repaired recently a portion of the_ fence had to be taken down, and while it was in that condition the stingray nosed his way in, curled himself up in the deepest and darkest corner until after the fence had been replaced. Some_ scared bathers one mornjng came almost in contact with the creature, and thereupon all bathing ceased, for a wound from the stingray s barb or tail can be most painful, md a hue and cry was raised. For three weeks the hunt went on. Efforts were made to harpoon it. Thrice it was struck and thrice it escaped with the hamoon eventually burned in its flesh. Men tried to capture it on a hook. They tried to enfold it in a net. Then, desperate, they brought charges of dynamite to bear. These were exploded, but though small fish floated to the surface dead, the giant stingray was merely c een for a flash and then disappeared. _ It began to be surrounded with a mythical elusiveness. Came a day when the stingray could no longer he seen. Last Monday Diver Albert.' Sydney’s foremost underwater export. donned his helmet and rubber dress, end began to grope round the heths_ to seo if all the fences were intact. During his ■uibmarine peregrinations he came across tbe stingray—dead. Whet caused his death i= problematical. It might have been the effect of tbe harpoon, which was found in its flesh, or, more probably, the charge of dynamite used might have wrought such effects that, although not immediately fetal, then eventually brought nbout the end

But in his few weeks of unwilling capi:v‘ty that stinn-ms; was given more ptiblicit- in ftm P-dnev newspapers than _ a matinee idol. Paragraphs appeared daily describing the efforts to capture him. Special writers were sent to work their imaginations and t’-newritem upon him and the hunt for him. Tb e customs, whims, and weaknesses of the stmgray tribe were exrda ; n''d at length. Photographers pictured harassed men in their search f n r it. And even in death, his hu<m bulk ■wn-- in pif'Tnrc finfJ ■written i'lp«rrinf'‘on. most vrvn’ir 1 cT’ri-rvnY in thp world ?11 fcerAHSO if v-pc silly to wnodor iofo * place which rom h" l for himself.