ZANE GREY’S EXPEDITION

Taranaki Daily News, 8 January 1927, Page 17

ZANE GREY’S EXPEDITION

PROBABLE ARRANGEMENTS. SCIENTH'IU EXPECTATIONS. Auckland, Jan. 4, Members of the eagerly discussed Zane Grey-Alma Baker sporting and scientific expedition are beginning to assemble in Auckland in readiness for the start, of the cruise in a fortnight’s time. There arrived by the Marama from Sydney to-day Mr. C. Alma Baker, the friend of Zane Grey and partner' in the expedition who was associated with the novelist in his deep-sea fishing experiences in New Zealand last year and to wliorii Zane Grey has dedicated his book "Tales of the Anglers’ Eldorado, New Zealand.” Mr. Baker left the United States four months ago in order to look after his rubber and tin interests in the Federated Malay (States, and he is now awaiting the arrival of Mr. Zane Grey and the remainder of the party who are en route from San Francisco by the Tahiti, which is due at Wellington on January 17. Accompanying Mr. Zane Grey is his brother, Mr. R. C. Grey, the novelist's 17-year-old son, Romer, who accompanied his' father on a fishing expedition in the Caribbean Sea two years ago, and Captain Laurie D. Mitchell, who was at Russell with Mr. Zane Grey last year. A welcome sight for Mr. Baker this morning was the schooner Fisherman, from San Pedro, lying at her moorings a short distance from where the Marama dropped anchor. The vessel will take the expedition to the Bay of Islands, and subsequently on a fishing and scientific cruise to- tire South Sea Islands, including the Kermadecs, Cook Group, and other waters as far east as Pitcairn. The voyage will be in the nature of a pioneering expedition, for the islands of the Pacific have never been exploited by the deep-sea angler in spite of the knowledge that those waters | are heavily stocked with great sporting i fish. Reports tell of sailfish running ,up to 19 and 20 feet in length, while tuna, broadbill, and niako shark, and I ordinary marlin swordfish, abound in considerable numbers.

During the Pacific cruise the Fisherman will be used, as a mother ship, five motor launches being carried on board for the purpose of taking parties to tire fishing grounds. The schooner's crew consists of specially picked men whom Mr. Zane Grey has employed for many years on his fishing expeditions. In order that the expedition may take on a scientific value, it is hoped to secure the services of two .scientists from American universities, whq will be occupied during the voyage with a detailed study of ocean currents and other marine phenomena, particularly with a view to mapping the warm currents likely to be infested with sporting fish on account of the abundance of feed. It is hoped in this way to discover the best fishing grounds in the Pacific and amass data which will be of value to deep sea anglers the world over. According to present plans the Fisherman will leave Auckland with its full complement of fishing experts, scientists, .photographers and navigators, about January 20, a few days after the arrive.! r-f V . Zane Grey and his party Tr,-in t r,’':’ :i ’ipn. Proceeding to the Bav of .Ijsldhds,, about tyro months wjll

be spent in fishing off the coast, exploiting a wide area, which will include the Great Barrier, in the Hauraki Gulf. The latter ground is known to be a good one from a sportsman’s point of view, and was not given much attention during Mr. Zane Grey’s visit last year. It is likely, too, that Mercury and Mayor Island, in the Slay of Plenty, will also be visited. In March the Fisherman will return to Auckland and a party from the ship will proceed to Taupo, where a fishing camp will be : occupied for a month. Mr. Zane Grey will renew his acquaintance with rod and in pursuit of the freshwater

species of sporting fish, the rainbow trout. At the end of that time a Btart will be made for the Pacific cruise, which will occupy the expedition four or five months. The party expects to bo back in America by the end of August.