SCHOOL OF FISH ASHORE

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1928, Page 9

SCHOOL OF FISH ASHORE

OF 37 BIGGEST WEIGH 2 TONS REMOVAL OF CARCASES DIFFICULT, UNUSUAL SIGHT NEAR W'HANGAREJ By Telegraph.—Press Association. Whangarei, Last Night. A school of black fish was an unusual sight seen at Castle Rock, Whangarei Heads, on Saturday evening. Settlers and passengers on the Kororo saw the fish follow the leader, said to be the smallest of the school, on to the rocks and the adjoining beach, where they became stranded despite frantic efforts to get back to deep water. The fish are reported to have been from six to 29 feet in length, and three of the largest must have weighed close on two tons. The stranded school, numbering 37, was the object of much attention by trippers during the week end, when one or two were still living, though high and dry. One of "those near the water «.»<. helped back to its natural element and soon swam almost out of sight. Afterwards it came inshore to the epot where it at once became stranded. These creatures are very faithful to the school and will in no circumstances leave it, as was proved by an incident on Saturday evening. When the Visitors became stranded two fish which had escaped swam in company around the bay for nearly two hours and eventually went on to the roeks. Residents set to work on Sunday evening to remove the fish from the shore before this task became too unpleasant, and the carcases are spread over the whole 'harbour foreshore down to the far end of* Urquhart’s Bay. Seven are lodged near the wharf there, where there is a regular traffic in dairy products, and others are lying opposite private residences end week-end cottages. People are in doubt as to which authority should undertake the task of towing the carcases out to sea, the Harbour Board, the Marine Department, or the Health Department. The only effective way is to take them into the main channel on a seaward drift, and it is believed the board will undertake thi» duty.