FIGHT WITH SHARK

Hokitika Guardian, 27 January 1926, Page 3

FIGHT WITH SHARK

LIVELY HALF HOUR. AUCKLAND, Jan. 20. An exciting shark hunt that presented some amusing features was witnessed by some hundreds of bathers and pickniokers at Milford Beach afternoon. The battle lasted over half an hour. The unwelcome visitor was roped after being stunned by a blow luom an ecu' and was towed to the beach where it was despatched with an axe. The shark, which measured Bft (iin in length, ibelievcd hv those who saw it to he a blue pointer.

There was a great crowd of bathers in the water and many more people were oil the beach, when at about half past three the presence of a shark was reported. The bathers scampered for the shore and all eyes turned towards the sea. where a fin was to be seen moving along in shallow water parallel with the snore. The shark was then abreast of Milford Road, and heading towards Takupiuui. A young Ulan named Bowers, a member of the -Milford Sort Club, secured a dinghy and pulling out beyond the shark tried to head it inshore. The shark, however. held to its course and the young man standing up in the dinghy, attacked it with an oar. He delivered one tremendous blew and lost his balance, both oars falling overboard.

By this time the spectators ashore were worked up to a high pitch of excitement and they feared the dinghy would capsize, leaving the occupant to the mercy of the shark. However the fish was apparently stunned by the blow from the oar and did not come to live surface again for some three or four minutes. .Meanwhile Mr Buckunrth, a member of the crew of the yacht. Little Jim, pulled to the scene of the encounter in a dinghy and took Bower’s boat in tow. Finding that the shark would not he headed olf .Mr Buckworth seized it by the tail and pulled it partly into his dinghy. Ibis was not done without a struggle, but .Mr Buekworth managed to slip a unose over its tail. The shark was then towed ashore tail iir-t, despite its desperate struggle-. The crowd ashore laid watched the capture with the keenest interest, many giving directions which the participants could not hear, while others expressed their feelings by yells and shrieks at tense moments. A weighty man in a llat-hottomed boat, rowed by a boy. set out to assist the men in the dinghies, but could not get near enough to use a large axe he was armed with, lie had his chance, however, when the shark was si l auded on I lie beach, hut his excitement was so great that when lie did swing the axe with, a mighty elfort he missed the target presented and buried the head ol the axe in the sand to the huge delight ut the spectators.