NEW FIGHTING SHARK

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 610, 12 March 1929, Page 1

NEW FIGHTING SHARK

CATCH AT CAPE BRETT DIFFERENT TEETH FROM MAKO USE OF NOISY LAUNCHES What is believed to be a new species of shark was landed off the north end of Piercy Island last week by Mr. lan Gordon, of Clifton station, Hawke’s Bay, who has returned to Auckland after a fortnight on the fishing grounds. The fish weighs 3461 b, and put up a great fight for 3} hours. It was foulhooked by the fin, and had to be carefully handled. After a prolonged display of acrobatics it reached the climax of its struggles by diving to the bottom of the sea, from which, a dead weight, it had to hand-lined with great cure. closely did it resemble a mako shark that the certificate of the fishing club was duly issued as for a mako. Subsequently doubts were raised by Captain Cook, of the whaling station at Wliangumumu, who pointed out that its colour had a brownish tinge foreign to the mako. and that its serrated rows of teeth lacked the jagged quality of tho mako’s formidable equipment. Accompanying Mr. Gordon were Messrs. “Mako" Smith, of Napier, and Messrs. B. Woods and B. O’Meara, all of whom got good sport. Mr. Smith, who has not missed a season in the North for a number of years, adheres to his opinion that the increasing use of noisy high-powered launches is conducive to the in-and-out fishing lately experienced. To figure consistently among the big catches, he says, it has become necessary to live on the fishing grounds for practically the whole season.