SAWFISH HARPOONED

Southland Times, Issue 20012, 28 October 1926, Page 4

SAWFISH HARPOONED

MONSTER CAUGHT AT MANLY. A THRILLING FIGHT. HANDED OVER TO MUSEUM. Sydney, October 15. One of the largest sawfish ever captured in Australian waters was harpooned in daring fashion by Manly Surf Club members off Manly Beach on Sunday. The monster measured 18ft 2in from tip of saw to tail, and the saw alone was 4ft 9in long. The fish was harpooned after a thrilling hunt, and though apparently sick from some cause, put up a fight. Six members of the club were in the surf boat, cruising round, and waiting for a big wave to take them ashore, while one of them, looking over the side, noticed the huge shape moving slowly along close to the sandy bottom. It was thought that the fish was an outsize in sharks, and as there were some hundreds of people in the surf at the time, men on the shark tower were signalled, and the shark bell was rung to warn the bathers. They needed no second alarm, and were all out on the beach within five minutes. In the meantime, one of the boatmen was landed on the nearby point, and while he was away procuring the harpoon, the other men in the boat manoeuvred the big fish into the channel which leads to the beach. This was no easy matter, but when their mate returned with the harpoon, they had the fish where they wanted it. Nevertheless it took three attempts before they were able to send the harpoon through the monster’s head between the eyes. At the touch of the harpoon the sawfish lashed about with its tail, nearly upsetting the boat, and then turned and made a dash at the boat with its saw, the sweepman nearly being transfixed as the weapon rapped over the side of the boat. When the harpoon struck, however, the men in the boat threw over a considerable I length of slack rope, anticipating a long drawn-out fight. In its desperate efforts to get free, the sawfish became entangled in the rope, and it was to that good fortune the men in the boat owed their easy capture. The big fish put up a great struggle under difficulties, and almost escaped into a hole under the rocks. Heavy blows and digs from the sweeps brought it out again, and eventually it was dragged ashore. Thousands of interested spectators crowded round to view the cyriosrty, and some, who ventured too close, were swept from their feet when the monster swished its tail round. An enterprising member of the club saw a good opportunity, and a section of the beach was quickly covered in with hessian. Those members of the public who were still curious were charged a silver coin admission to inspect the sawfish, ’ and by that means the club benefited to the extent of about £Bo—almost sufficient to purchase a new surf boat. Authorities from the Sydney Museum who hurried down to view the catch officially stated that it wts a remarkable feat to have landed such a monster in so easy a fashion. They claimed that it was one of the largest ever caught in Australian waters, or, for that matter, in the world, as the sawfish rarely grows larger than 20ft. After the club had finished showing it, the sawfish was handed over to the Museum authorities, and they have already made arrangements to stuff the skin and place it in the collection. A feature of the catch was the presence on the skin of the sawfish of several “suckers,” which were most difficult to remove.

(Continued from Previous Page.) ROWING NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION. OFFICERS ELECTED. Wellington, October 27. At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association held today the following officers were elected:— President, Major Lomax (Wanganui) ; vicepresidents, Messrs Widdop (Wellington), MacLaine (Marlborough) ; council, Messrs Duncan, Paton, Innes, Turner, Lauchlan, Morris and Menzies; secretary and treasurer, Mr Bayfield. As Marlborough was the only association asking for the championship regatta the fixture was awarded them, to be held in Picton harbour. Mr Hall said it would probably be about the middle of February. TENNIS. INDIAN PLAYER RE-INSTATED. London, October 26. The Lawn Tennis Association has reinstated the Indian player, S. U. Jacob, who was one of those suspended in consequence of a dispute over taking expenses.—Sun Cable. ATHLETICS. SCHOOL RECORDS BROKEN. Dunedin, Octoer 27. At the Otago Boys’ High School sports to-day, L. E. Macassey broke the school record for 100 yards by 1-5 second, the previous record being 10 4-5 seconds. In the junior half mile R. G. Jolly did the distance in 2min 17 4-ssecs, breaking the record of 2.20. SHOOTING. LIVE PIGEON COMPETITION. Christchurch, Octeber 27. Private cable advice received in Christchurch to-day states that F. Truscott and R. S. Taylor (Christchurch) and A. Dobson and L. P. Hughes (Auckland) were amongst those still left in the final day’s shooting for the £5OOO live pigeon handicap organised by the Melbourne Gun Club which was to have concluded to-day. Subsequently a world’s live pigeon championship, the first of its kind ever organised, will be decided. Competitors from all over the world are taking part. BOXING. FEATHERWEIGHT BOUTS. GRIFFITHS DEFEATS McCARTHY. Auckland, October 27. Two professional featherweight bouts, each of 10 rounds, were staged to-night. T. Griffiths (Dunedin) Bst lOJlbs beat C. McCarthy (Auckland) Bst 10? lbs on points and P. Black (Wellington) 9st Jibs threw in the towel at the end of the ninth round of his bout with R. Overend (Napier) 9st Albs, being unable to continue on account of an injury to his nose. HEENEY DEFEATS STANLEY. WIN ON POINTS. London, October 25. Heeney was superior throughout his fight with Stanley, and won the decision on points, Stanley would have been. knocked out easily had Heeney’s blows not lacked power.— A and N.Z. NEW ZEALANDER SUPERIOR. A HARD FIGHT. London, October 25. The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates was present at the Heenev-Stanley fight. He congratulated the New Zealander in the dressingroom on his win. Both men were in good form and fought hard throughout. There was a curious similarity between all the rounds, Heeney invariably rushing in and hitting out. Then the fighters closed and in-fighting followed with upper-cuts until a momentary breakaway came, but soon they were head to head again, “despite the referee’s interventions. Stanley made some use of his superiority in inches, but Heeney staggered Stanley with a left and right to the jaw in the second round and maintained his superiority in the third, though his face blows had little sting in them. Stanley made a better show in the fourth, but Heeney broke away and scored with hits to the face and body at the end of the round. Both fought hard in the fifth, Stanley endeavouring to avoid the punches and whfen Heeney landed a blow it was relatively ineffective.

There were few good straight rights by either man and no spectacular bouts, but the last four rounds were lively, Heeney trying hard for a knock out. Stanley, however, covered well. There is no doubt that if Heeney’s blows had carried any real power, the contest would have ended long before, as the New Zealander was on top practically every round.—A. & N.Z.