BLAOKFISH SCHOOL ASHORE

Evening Star, Issue 19784, 7 February 1928, Page 12

BLAOKFISH SCHOOL ASHORE

FOLLOW LEADER TO DESTRUCTION [Peu United Press Association.] WHANGA ItFl, February 6. A school of blacktisli was an unusual sight seen at Castle Hock, Whangaroi Heads, on Saturday evening. Settlers and passengers on the Kororo saw the fish follow the leader, said to be the smallest of the school, on to the rocks and adjoining beach, where they became stranded despite frantic efforts to get back to deep water. The fish are reported to have been from 6ft to 20ft in length, and three of the largest must have weighed close on two tons. The stranded school, numbering thirty-seven, was the object of much attention by trippers during the week-end, when one or two were still living, though high and dry. One of those near the water was helped back to its natural element, and soon swam almost out of sight, but afterwards came inshore to the same spot, where it once more became stranded. The amphibians are very faithful to the school, and will in no circumstances leave it, as was proved by an incident on Saturday evening. When the visitors became stranded, two which bad escaped, swam in company around the bay for nearly two hours, and eventually went on to the rocks. Residents set to work on Sunday evening to remove the fish from the shore before this tack became too unpleasant, and the carcasses are now spread over the whole harbor foreshore down to the far end of Urqulmrt’s Bay. Seven arc lodged near the wharf there, where there is a regular traffic in dairy products, and others are lying opposite private residences and week-end cottages. There is some doubt as to which authority should undertake the task of towiim "the carcassei out to sea—The HarboT- Board, the Marine Department, or the Health Department. The only effective way is to take them into the main channel on a, seaward drift, and it is believed the board will undertake this duty.