SHARK FISHING INDUSTRY

Taranaki Daily News, 16 July 1929, Page 9

SHARK FISHING INDUSTRY

SUCCESS IN AUSTRALIA. BRIGHT FUTURE PREDICTED. “The future of the shark industry in Australia is bright, and it should be given every encouragement,” said Mr. T. C. Roughley, of the Technological Museum, when speaking at a meeting of the Royal Society of New South Wales recently. “Not only is it a new 7 industry, which should therefore be encouraged, but its success means lessening the shark menace to surf bathers.” The lecturer pointed out that although many sharks migrated a great number remained in one locality for a protracted period, and so could be practically exterminated by competent shark fishers. One important result would be the destruction of the greatest enemies of food fish. Mr. Roughley detailed the methods of shark fishing used by a company which is operating with success in Australian waters. As the industry extended, he said, it. would be found convenient to discard a land base in favour of a mother-ship, which could be moved from place to place as the shark trawler depleted successive areas. Shark leather, Mr. Roughley said, had been proved to be of great use commercially, since it is quite as pliable as other leathers, and yet, being very hard, did not show scratches. It has been used for shoes, handbags, wallets, tobacco pouches and similar articles, and has been found to wear far better than other leather.

- <f When the industry is firmly established,” concluded the lecturer, “it will be found more profitable to work in northern tropical waters, where ths sharks are very much .bigger, than on the New South Wales coast.”