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Hokitika Guardian, 26 November 1930, Page 1

Millions of st-nbirds fishing in mass formation off the Marine parade on Saturday drew to the Napier waterfront hundreds of people, and brought to a climax a period in which Hawke's Bay has teemed with fish as never before, states the correspondent of the Wellington “Post”. Prolonged westerly gales giving shelter close inshore to vast shoals of small fry are thought to account for the presence of schnapper, trevalli and kahawai iii unprecedented numbers. On Saturday morning great shoals of kahawai followed by the ever watchful birds, moved with a rushing noise back and forth along the seafront, chasing thousands of small fish ashore, where they formed a narrow glittering trail extending for several miles. Many fishermen, with improvised lines, advanced into the calm sea and succeeded in jagging good hauls of kahawai, Meanwhile countless gannets, diving from aloft, conveyed the impression that a snowstorm was in progress, while huge flocks of mutton birds rested on the sea or fluttered among t'he cannets to glean a share of the bountiful harvest.