MONEY FROM SHARKS

Hokitika Guardian, 3 July 1930, Page 2

MONEY FROM SHARKS

J LL-FATED EXPEDITION

FACTORY SHIP ON CORAL

REEF

DECK PLANKING FOR FUEL. A millionaire’s yacht that was made the factory ship of a shark-catching expedition was driven by storm oil to a coral reel off tne coast of Madagascar iind was finally laid up indefinitely at Durban because her owners were not inclined to pay the money that was necessary lo make her seaworthy again. Summed up that is the story of the steam yacht Istar, as told by “Bill,” one of the crew. “Bill” (who prefers to remain anonymous) is now on the British motor ship Enton, and ne spun his yarn as the Enton was ttlscnar.ging at the Prince’s wharf, Auckland.

Brief mention of the Istar’s departure from London for Madagascar was made’in a cablegram published in New Zealand newspapers last yen'?, blit the details of her lushing and her subsequent battering oh a coral reef were never received in this part of the World.

The Istar, according to “Bill,” was a smart-looking craft of just under 2000 tons gross, but nearly 30 years old. She was originally owned by a French millionaire, a wine merchant, and was nardly. the type of craft that one would imagine ideal for the commercial venture for which she was selected. But ciiosen she was, and the work of fitting uer out at London occupied a full year.

The object of tne expedition, which was financed by French money, was to investigate the possibilities of shark fishing a,s a commercial industry. Money was freely spent in equipping the yacht, and when she was ready to sail she was truly a factory ship. • It was planned to puf shark skins on the market in place of leather, to bottle the oil—.shark liver oil is said to be every bit as valuable .as cod liver oil—to ship ‘fins to China, where they are regarded as a dblicacy for : soup, and to convert the carcases into manure. Although the expedition was admittedly of an experimental luuure, the interested parties were' sanguinff Of its success.

EARLY TROUBLES. According to “Bill’s” story, misfortune shipped with the crew. When the yacht was leaving London she almost crashed into a dock, and minor troubles were encountered on the way 'tio Madagascar, (which is separated from Africa by the Mozambique Channel, A prolonged trip was made, but the Istar eventually reached Tulear, where she landed ten Diesel-engined boats which were to be used Tor setting the shark nets. The yacht then sailed for Durban, where it had been arranged she would pick up Professor Ehrenreicli, a Czecho-SJovakian, who had been responsible for the patents of the new industry. Midway across the Mozambiue Channel the ship ran into a stiff blow and a big sea broke on top of the temporary deck, which had been built ait to carry the netsetting boats, sweeping away several hundred empty oil drums and almost washing the whole deck over the side. Professor Ehrenreicli was taken on board at Durban and the Istar' returned to Madagascar. The factory ship anchored some distance off the coast, the Diesel-engined boats came out from Tulear and the fishing commenced.

For three weeks all went well, and good hauls were made. The sharks swam into the nets —the cost of the nets alone ran into • several thousam pounds—and their dorsal fins became entangled in the meshes. As a shark cannot swim backwards its chance oi escape when netted was small, but it the nets were left down too long the drowned sharks were devoured by others. For three weeks the Istar’s daily catch averaged 30 tons. Sharks of all species were caught the largesi turning the scales at 17cwt and 18 towh. Besides sharks, a. number of sawfish, devilfish and a huge porpoise fell victims to the strong hempen nets. It was the belief of the scientists accompanying the expedition that there is a regular track followed by sharks going from the African coast, across the Indian Ocean, to Australia.

LEAKING BADLY. Then came the disaster. A sudden storm caused the Tstn.r to drag her anchors, and she was blown on to a coral reef. Foir nine days she was held fast and the swell caused hoi to pound heavily. Perseverance at last got the yacht off: under her own power, and although she was leaking badly her pumps were able to keep tiie water in check. A Lloyd’s surveyor went across from Lnurenoo Mar.gues (Portuguese East Africa) and he forbade the Tstn.r to sail for Durban for repairs unless she carried 200 tons of coal, a full supply of fresh water and a lOin. emergency motor pump. He also stipulated that the chief engineer, who had lost his thumb in an accident on the Istnr, and the third engineer, who had been burned in an explosion, should he replaced. This meant a long wait and the ship’s supply of coal ran out before the. relief ship did arrive, a diver had to the steam pumps going the wood from the temporary deck was ripped up and fed into the furnaces. When the re-

lied ship did arrive, a diver lmd to go down to clear a number of steel wires which had became tangled around the propellers. Getting one propellor clear was a long 'job and the attempt to disentangle the other failed completely. After several weeks’ delay, the Istar, under the power of only one screw sailed for Durban, and made a slow but sale crossing. 'I he cost of repairs was estimated, at £IO,OOO and apparently this was considered too high, for after further delay, due crew were paid off and given a passage to England, where they arrived at the end of last year.

As far as “Bill” knows the Jstar is still at Durban the expedition lie says eost those responsible more than dice,COO.