MONSTER SHARK CAPTURED.

Otago Witness, Issue 3005, 18 October 1911, Page 65

MONSTER SHARK CAPTURED.

DESPERATE STRUGGLES. (From Otjr Own Cokijespontjent.) CHRISTCHTJRCH, October 13. From the Chatham Islands comes the story of an exciting struggle with a huge shark, which for weeks had been pestering 1 the fishermen of the Kaingaroa fishing station, while they were fishing on the Cape Young cod banks. The monster seemed to have an insatiable appetite, and was continually stripping the lines of fish, 31b lead sinkers, and occasionally sa6h weights, and playing havoc with the fishing ge*ar generally. The shark, which was nicknamed " Charlie Young," was first hooked by Noyer and party in a Launch, but he made light of their efforts to eateh him, and got away with the i-in steel hooks and bait. Next day another crew, using a large hook made from an old crowbar, baited wvth a 101 b hapuka, made fast to the monster, which made off at & great rate, towing the heavy 32ft launch for nearly a mile. Finding this of no avail, the shark commenced to kick violently, and in his flurry he straightened the great hook -as though- it were copper wire, an«f once more was free. Greed got the better of caution, and a week later "Charlie" was hooked once. more, the same hook having been re-shaped and hardened. Two other launches came to the assistance .of the captors, and ■ the great shark was got within a few feet of the boat. H. Grennell, jun., then gave him a harpoon, . which roused him to tremendous fury. In his struggles hV snapped both lines and got clear away with both hooks :and harpoon. A few days later, however, his ,end came. The crew of Noyer's launch got him with a hook of lin steel baited with half of a hapuka, arid the shark made off, towing the launch from Cape Young to the Sisters Rocks, a distance -of eeven -miles, before tiring. Even then, when half drowned and secured with lines fore and aft, he proved an ugly customer, snapping his huge jaws and lashing the water to foam with his great tail. Finally the knives were got to work, and' " Charlie " was finished. He was far too weighty to get.on board, and the fact that two men were able to, stand on his back and work with knives in cutting off his head gives some idea of his great size. Although he was only 18ft in length, he was no less than' lift 9in in girth. The fishermen got 214 teeth from the- jaws of; the monster, but many . were damaged., The largest teeth measured. liin across the base, and nearly 3in in length.