BATTLE BETWEEN FISH

Taranaki Daily News, 13 October 1928, Page 8

BATTLE BETWEEN FISH

SUNFISH AND SHARK FIGHT. Suva, Sept. 27. About a fortnight ago, a fisherman, Mr. A. Smoothey, was fishing in the vicinity of Sandbank Passage, on the way to Nukulau, when he saw a i.iighly battle taking place between a huge shark and what he believes to have been a giant sunfish, which, he declares, must have weight d more than a ton Mr. Sm.tochy was by himself at the time, some distance away from the passage, when he saw the water being violently disturbed. He made for the spot and found that the water for an area 100 yards square was red with blood while in the centre a battle to the death was going on between a giant thresher shark and a big fish. Occasionally the fish came above the surface, showing only a portion of its great black back. Its dark, coarse skin appeared to be that a sunfish. The shark in its eflort to kill its prey rose right out of the water, showing half of its 20 or more feet of length, and then threshed down on the back of the fish, cutting chunks out of it with his side fin and sending spurts of blood and water high into the- air. It was a thrilling sight, and the battle lasted fully a quarter of an hour. Mr. Smoothey says he felt inclined to draw in and capture one of the contestants, but ho could not manage a fish of such a size and handle his launch at the same time. At last victory went to the shark, and the big fish sank to the bottom. The shark disappeared immediately, presumably going to the bottom to enjoy its well-earned feast. Several such battles inside the reef near Suva have been reported recently. At present the harbour is alive with fish of all sizes.