SHARKS OFF WELLINGTON

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30962, 19 January 1966, Page 1

SHARKS OFF WELLINGTON

(N.Z Press Association) | WELLINGTON. January 18. Wellington harbour’s popular Worser Bay basked in sunshine today, but the beach and sea were virtually deserted while a red and white checked shark warning flag flew from the surf lifesaving clubhouse. A shark was sighted in the bay last week, and local residents say the shark scare has made a noticeable difference to the usually crowded beach. Today a mother stood on a seaward rock watching for

sharks while six children splashed on a small shelf at one end of the beach.

Another group of four children played on the sand and said they were not allowed near the water. None of them knew the flag on the clubhouse was a warning of sharks.

Business for store-keepers in Worser Bay fell today. “It’s very bad,” said Mr J. H. Felzel, owner of one dairy. “What with the weather and now this shark scare, it’s interfering with business all right.” Mr Felzel said he usually swam tn the evenings but 'would not any more. “I’ve caught several myself, up to 6ft, on a hand line,” he I said.

A man, who declined to give his name, said there was plenty of food around the harbour entrance to attract sharks. “Even more so when the whaling station was in operation,” he added. “There were hundreds of sharks in Cook Strait then.”

Warning Gongs

Shark warning gongs, to be placed within reach of the public, will be installed as soon as possible, it was decided in Wellington on Monday. The approved warning ystems adopted by the general meeting of the New Zealand Surf Life-saving Association last September were bells and gongs.

“I would not advise clubs tn buy sirens,” said the pre-

sident of the Wellington association, Mr H. J. K. Farey. “But if they have them, let them be used by all means.” Two Schools Seen

Swimmers at Ruakakt this afternoon left the water hurriedly after two schools of sharks were seen cruising about 20 yards off the beach.

The sharks about 26, in number—were in all sizes up to about 6ft long. They stayed around for about tw-o hours and then left, allowing most of the swimmers to go back into the water. One Caught

A shark between 4ft and sft long was caught by a fisherman about 300 yards north of the Rangiora street swimming rea at Castlecliff Beach, Wanganui, tonight.