AN EXCITING ADVENTURE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 37, 8 February 1912, Page 2

AN EXCITING ADVENTURE.

SHARK ON THE FITZROY BEACH. An Eltham resident, who by the way is a good swimmer, declares that the oiler of £IOO would not tempt him to go surf bathing in the vicinity of New Plymouth again, says the “Argus.” A hungry shark is responsible for this definite declaration. According to the statement of the resident referred to, he was at the Kitzroy beach on Monday last and was enjoying a dip in the briny with his three boys. They had been out beyond the breakers and were a good distance from laud when they observed three men on shore signalling frantically. Thinking that something was the matter, but hot knowing what it was, they wont in to land and were informed that a big shark was in the vicinity close inshore, inside the breakers. The swimmers, however, had not seen him, as he was further along the beach. Next, a girl came running from the ladies’ dressing-shed and was warned by her Eltham friend that there was a shark about and she had better be careful. She replied that she was not afraid and entered the water, as also did her friend. The two were together and could not hear what was being said on the beach on account of the noise made by the waves’, when all of a sudden, on the crest of a wave and very close by, they saw the shark. The girl who said she was not afraid of sharks quickly belied her words and made for the shore helter-skelter, as also did her companion, feeling that their acquaintance with his sharkship was already rather unpleasantly, close. The people on the beach were attracted by the sight of the monster and it is said that the was in so close that he might have been lassooed from the beach if there had been anybody there witli a long rope and the necessary skill. Needless to say, surf-bathing was not popular during the rest of the day. It is also stated that the shark was first seen near the breakwater, and he (had evidently cruised round to Fitzroy in search of a succulent, meal. The fact that ho came in so close is taken to show that his appetite was keen and that lie was attending strictly to business. It is not often that large sharks pay such dose visits to the New Plymouth beaches, but bathers would do well to keep the possibilities in mind.