BATTLE OF SEA MONSTERS

Evening Star, Issue 19658, 10 September 1927, Page 9

BATTLE OF SEA MONSTERS

ATTACK OX SCHOOL OF WHALES. The residents of Tweed Heads and Coolangatta have for some time past witnessed practically every day stirring fights between deep-sea monsters (says a Sydney paper). These encounters have taken place within a mile of Point Danger. The participants comprise whales which are migrating, and their implacable enemies, the thrashers. The thrasher is a variety of shark, commonly known among fishermen as the sea fox or fox shark. There were at least half a dozen participants in a, particularly stirring battle the other day. The contest, which lasted for over two hours, was savage in the extreme. It was witnessed from the surrounding bills by large numbers of interested spectators. The battle was waged with intensity by both whales and thrashers. At times the whole bodies of attacking thrashers were visible above the water line, as they leapt high into the air preparatory to crashing down on their formidable opponents. The flash of the sun’s rays on their silvery skins gave an added spectacular, touch to the contest. At times portion of a whale would become visible, with the greater part of the tail clear of the water, as the monsters sought to throw off the attackers. During the contest the most remarkable sight was that of a thrasher poised in mid-air, prior to its downward swoop, its 15ft length, half of which appeared to be tail, being apparent in a stationary position for several seconds. The battle was still being waged with undiminislied vigor when the monsters disappeared from view beyond the horizon. It is a general belief amongst fishermen that the swordfish co-operatoa with the thrashers in attacks on the whale, the first-named harassing the monster from below the surface of the water, whilst the _ thrasher operates largely from the air. This view, however, is discounted by some scientists.