SHARKS AT BONDI

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21992, 29 June 1933, Page 9

SHARKS AT BONDI

CRUISING NEAR BEACH FISHERMAN'S GREAT TUSSLE. A large crowd on Bondi Beach op s recent afternoon watched a magnificent tussle betwpen a fisherman and a shark. The fisherman played the monster on a rod 'line for nearly an hour, and had almost landed it when the wire trace attached to the hook broke. He was so exhausted by the fight that he fell ou the beach and lay there until his strength returned. The shark also had suffered severely. It remained in shallow water for some time before it turned and swam out to sea. Two sharks, 10 or 11 feet Jong, appeared in the surf about' 10 o'clock "in the morning. They got into a channel only a few feet from the waterline and cruised close to the shore. Apparently they were chasing salmon. Members of the Bondi Life-saving Club had to ring the bell several times during the day to bring the few winter bathers from the water. There was little danger to the bathers, as the channel was only three or four feet deep, and the water was clear. The fishermen arrived on the beach about 2 p.m. One of the sharks took a bait about 20 minutes later. Then a terrific struggle began. The fisherman's rod bent double, and several times he was dragged into the water. Members of the crowd helped him back to the beach whenever the shark threatened to drag him into deep water. After an hour's skilful playing the monster was dragged into shallow water. A noose had been prepared, and was about to be slipped over it when the wire' trace holding the hook, which had been badly frayed in the struggle, parted. The battle had ended with honours even. Surf club members stated that It is not unusual for sharks to be caught off Bondi Beach during the winter months, but it is not often that they are seen cruising so close to the shore.