FISHING FOR SHARKS

Southland Times, Issue 21089, 22 May 1930, Page 2

FISHING FOR SHARKS

SPORT FOR NATIVES. CATCHES IN EASTERN SAMOA. NOOSE, POLE AND AXE. Fishing for sharks a few miles from Pago Pago, in American Samoa, is regarded as great sport by the natives. They use no harpoons or spears. In a large outrigger canoe the Samoans set out into the bay, and on the way offer solemn prayers that many sharks will appear and that their catch will be heavy. By way of more material inducement the natives take a tin of salmon, which is opened, and the contents dropped into the water. There are few things a shark prefers to a tin of salmon. A stout stick is run throil'-h a hole in half a coconut shell, and as the native thumps it up and down in the water a heavy, chugging sound is made which helps to attract the shark. A 75ft line, about as thick as a man’s thumb, is run out, and attached to it is a piece of wood and a lump of decayed meat. The wood keeps the bait near the surface of the water. If sharks fail to appear after the end of the line has been made fast to the end of the boat, further prayers are offered. The excitement begins when a shark is sighted. As the man-eating fish goes to take a bite at the bait a native draws the line just to tantalise the shark. A shovelnose shark cannot snatch the bait in one gulp without turning on its back, and it is quite simple to lead the shark to'the boat. Seated beside the native with the line are two others, one with a heavy noose and the other with a five-foot pole. The line is nulled in rapidly, and the bait raised out of the water, just as the shark reaches the boat. As the shark snatches at it a native slips the noose over the shark’s nose and head and draws it taut behind the dorsal fin.

A X2ft. shark kicks sufficiently to swamp a boat. The native with the pole places it against the shark’s mouth, and as the fish opens its jaws the pole is rammed down its throat.

The enraged shark puts up a tremendous battle, but is silenced when its head is split open with an axe. A heavy club is also brought into play, and later the shark is cut near the tail, and gradually bleeds to death.

Sometimes, however, a shark has fought for several hours. The natives find parts of the shark quite tasty, and the return of a successful hunt is usually the signal for a feast.

Many of the young Samoans know nothing of this sport, but the older men are masters of it.