TURTLE-FISHING EXTRAORDINARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3018, 17 January 1912, Page 101

TURTLE-FISHING EXTRAORDINARY.

Off the coast of British East Africa the natives have a strange method of catching turtles, ono -which is. apparently for the first time, doscripe.d by a white man in the November number of Blackwood’s Magazine. The writer of the article noticed at a small Arab town a number Of large turtles fresh from the sea. In reply to his question as to how they had been caught, he was told that the method of capture was by the use of sucker fish attached to lines. Feeling curious to test the truth of the statement, he got a sheikh pf hie acquaintance to persuade, ihe fishermen to toke him on one of their

fishing expeditions. The fishing ground was just outside a reef. The crew of tbe fishing boat consisted of five natives. two fishermen, two lade to manage the boat, and -a boy. On the oily surface of the water at a short distance from the boat a turtle's head would bob up every now and then, and disappear with a noisy splash. For the fishing two sucker-fish, or "taza," as the natives called themn, ■were used, a third being kept in reserve. These "taza" ranged in size from about 3ft to Ift Bin. They were slender, green-coloured, scalelese fish, the only thing abnormal about them being thenextra ordinary limpet-like power of attaching themselves to anything. The part by which they fastened on to their prey lay at the back of their heads. In appearance it wad l ; ke the corrugated rubber- sole of a tennis shoe. Apparently it was only in the sea that they possessed the power of attachment. The "taza" was secured by passing a piece of cord around the boay near the tail and knotting it. The cord was then tied to a fishing line, just as an ordinary hook would be. When the fish was not wanted the fisherman drew the line through the fish's gills and out at the mouth, tying it into a loop. lie then put the "raza" overbosrd at the end of about 6ft of line, and the fish immediately attached itself to the side of the boat arid was towed along by it. When it was required for fishing the man put his hand over the side, pulled the -"taza" away from the board to which it was clinging, unfastened the loop, and, holding the body sometimes by the head, but more often by the taf', threw the fish into the SH.a. On reaching the water the "taza" darted away, and tbe fisiheririan sat holding the line as though lie was using an ordinary hook and bait. After a few minutes' fishing one of the men uttered a shout, and his line began to pay out rapidly. His companion at once hauled in his own '"taza," passed the line through its gills and mouth, and tossed it overboaa-d. He then helped the two boys to paddle the boat in pursuit of the turtle to which the first "taza" had become fast. The turtle wax- played for about half an hour. Presently the fisherman seemed to find its strength failing and begat! to haul in his line. His companion then laid down his paddle and again threw his own "taza" info thu sea. At the first attempt the "taza" failed to find its quarry, so it was drawn in and once more thrown overboard in another direction. The second- line soon became taut, proving that the second fisii had joined lta mate on the turtle's body. The first fisherman took hold of both iines, while his companion got ready a third hook with a grapnel attached to a rope. A grin broke over his face, the where the turtle was thought to be lying. Then the grapnel was looped 0.1 to the two "taza" lines by a oord lowered over the boat's side till it reach the bottom. An anxious moment followed. The man was feeling his position and waiting some indication that the grapnel was under the turtle. Suddenly he struck hard and hauled in a few feet of his rope. A gi'in roke over his face, the turtle was fast. The two boatmen dropped their paddles and dived over the boat's side. In the clear water they could plainly be seen struggling with the turtle, which was being rapidly drawn to the surface. In a second all had emerged. The boatmen held grimly to the turtle's fin, while its back was firmly pressed against the boat's side. At once the turtle was hoisted over the boat's side and placed on its back in the bottom. It measured sft Bin from mouth to tail, and 2it 9in across the base of its shell. In the course of the morning the fiehermen made fast four other turtles. Two of them were safely captured, but two broke away One of the latter was only lost after a long chase, the men explaining that the ""taza" had become tired and dropped off. The "taza" were taught on the "coast about seven miles from the fishiiig ground, but they seemed to be scarce. The bait used for them was either a piece of fish or turtle. When caught the fish were placed in wcker cages submerged in the sea. They do not thrive in captivity, and refuse to eat. Consequently theV have to.be used in the two days 'following their capture, as, after that time thev would not have sufficient strength to cat oh turtle. The "taza" apparently can be used in this way to catch dugong as well as turtle.