FIGHT WITH A CONGER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19800, 18 November 1919, Page 7

FIGHT WITH A CONGER.

—♦ — j TREASURE HUNT ADVENTURE. 1 An extraordinary story of a divert I fierce fight with a huge congnr eel while ! at work in connection with the Tobermory treasure hunt is told by an English correspondent. The affair occurred in close proximity to tho old Spanish galleon m Tobermory Bay. The conger is said to have been 16ft in length. It lashed out at tlio diver, Mackenzie, bit at his logs, ®nd twisted round Ids body. Diver Mackenzie's only weapon was a strong, hosepipe, with whiich ho meant to conduct, sluicing operations, but it was attached to an elaborate and heavy frame to keep it in position. and was as awkward a means of offence or defence as one could imagine. “ T did my best,” said the diver, “to ward him off and keep him from biting ray hands,” for he remembered bow a ■ companion’s band bad been so lacerated that it had! to bo amputated. "I could not got a direct hit at him, for he was never still, and when ho had stirred up the boulder clay in the excavation ho was very much screened. “I was also handicapped by my airpipe and lifeline, and tho difficulty of seeing him as ho twisted about me.” Finally the diver signalled to bo taken up so that he might arm himself with a steel spear. He descended again, but searched in vain for the conger. “The only injury he did mo,” concluded tho diver, " was a scratch or two on my little finger, which wore nainful euomrli.” ■