THAT SHARK.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 450, 25 February 1909, Page 2

THAT SHARK.

We published, In good faith, a statement in Saturday’s issue to the effect that a shark, measuring 18ft in length, had been captured in a fisherman’s net at the Heads. The statement created quite a panic at the beach. One local fisherman was so pestered with anxious enquiries, that at last he lost his sweet temper, and said a naughty word about “ the shark that wasn’t, and the bloomin’ paper that dared to say that there had ever been a shark in the Manawatu, much less at the Heads.” Still, the seasiders naturally have been much alarmed about the statement. Well, to make a long story thin, our informant, who, by the way, is a very matter-of-fact person—not given to joking—gave us the information in good faith, as told to him and we accepted ; and published it. It appears that a young fellow, who is fond of a joke, concocted a story about a shark measuring 18ft having been caught at the Heads in a fisherman’s net. and sold to the Maoris for ys- This was accepted as a fact by the person who listened to the tale, and who passed it on ,to our informant. Before publishing the item and for verification we haled an old salt, who has had experience in lasooing sharks by the tail—aslc'Uim if you don’t believe us—and, although he had not heard that a shark had beea captured at the beach, he graphically described how he trad “earned a fiver” from a naval officer for his ingenuity in lasooing a monster shark by thie tail, and hauling it to the masthead. The skin and moss on its teeth were subsequently preserved as a great marine relic. Anyhow, seasiders need have no further fear of sharks at the beach 1