MAKO BITES ROPE

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 138, 7 December 1929, Page 19

MAKO BITES ROPE

ONE KILL IN FOUR-

A Eussell correspondent writes:—

Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Parr, of England, have come to New Zealand to indulge in the thrilling sport of big game fishing, and have made their headquarters at Otehei Bay. Mr. Parr on Ist December, his first clay out, had some thrills in the launch Zane Grey. No sooner had he commenced fishing near Bird Bock when a monster mako ran his line out at a terTific speed. The angler struck hard to ensure that the prize was securely hooked1. The fish leaped twenty feet into the ■ air, and in doing so managed to throw the hook and evade capture. After an hour's fishing and another drift had commenced, Mr- Parr felt a decided tug at his line, and it was soon apparent that another mako was hooked. Tins fish proved to bo a stubborn fighter. On being brought alongside the launch to be gaffed the instrument was firmly embedded in the fish, and it was partly roped, but it rushed under the launch with the rope and trace still holding. Suddenly the rope parted, and the angler had to continue holding his fish with the wire trace. This was accomplished with considerable difficulty, and it was some time before another, rope could be fastened round its tail. When the mako had been hauled aboard the launch, it was discovered that the monster had cleanly bitten through three thicknesses of rope. When the fish was brought into Otehei Bay to be weighed it turned .the scales at 252 pounds. Mr. Parr is not only having the jaw mounted, but ho is also retaining the pieces of rope as mementoes. Another angler the same day had tho bad luck to lose two makos, one of which bit the line clean through.