Killing a Shark.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 December 1922, Page 1

Killing a Shark.

A STRANGE TALE FROM FIJI. In these Pacific waters it is a most unusual, thing for a shark to interfere in any way with a human being in the water, be he or she black or white (writes the Suva correspondent of the Auckland “Star”). The popular theory does not hold good, and white people are often seen out in deep water, where sharks are known to he, and never yet is there a tale of an attempt at attack. The story therefore of how a very brave but very foolhardy boy of 17 years of age swam after and got hold of a shark and fotlght him for some 20 minutes, until the exhausted fish was got into shallow water is one which has even aroused Fiji. The news arrived recently and the story is vouched for as accurate. The boy is Gilmour Taylor, the son of Mr Taylor, of Uda Ivaeu, Tnveuni Island. .The hoy is a great fisherman and his favourite method of catching fish is hv spearing them, a favourite habit of the natives. A few days ago Gilmour fixed a big bait of offal near a rock in a few feet of water, and he waited alongside it with bis spear ready to harpoon any fish that might come along. In a few minutes a shark came into view, and the lad cast his spear, but it entered the shark’s side, without doing much damage. Fearing ho might lose his trusty weapon he dived in to secure the spear, and managed in his excitement to clutch tho fish’s tail with his right hand while he tried to grip the spear with the other, but the shark turned round and caught the boy’s left hand. In terrible agony the lad shifted bis grip and secured a bold round the shark’s middle. Then a deadly fight for life occurred. Round and round the pair twisted and fought while the

water boiled and frothed, and the natives on shore who were watching the struggle shouted themselves hoarse with excitement. Kven two Solomon boys, who generally are not afraid, seemed to be too petrified with fright to interfere. So the fight went on lor •JO long minutes. How the hoy endurihl it is hard to say. But he was of a bulldog tenacity, and stuck to his catch. At last the little hero brought his fish to the shore only to fall exImusted, as the Solomon Islanders seized the fish. But as he lay there, the fish, with a last kick, hit Gilmoui on the head with his tail, knocking him out. 4lis father had been called, and arrived just in time to carry his boy away front the scene of such a light as he had never seen before and probably will never see again. The hoy by last accounts is recovering, although his hand is very badly lacerated. Everyone is speaking of the heroic battle, and there is rejoicing that the gallant little chap landed his fish, although at such a cost. It was a very game action.