SHARK INDUSTRY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 18 July 1929, Page 3

SHARK INDUSTRY

SUCCESS IN AUSTRALIA TiRIDHT FUTURE PREDICTED “The future of the slir.rk industry in Australia is bright, and it should be given every encouragement,’’ said Air I. Roughlcy, of the Technological Museum, when speaking at a meeting of tin- Royal Society of Xew South Wales recently. ‘Wot- only is it. a new industry, which should therefore he encouraged, but its success means lessening' the shark menace to surf bathers.” The lecturer pointed out that although many sharks nyigrated a great number remained in one locality for a protracted period, and so could be practically exterminated by competent shark fishers. One important result would be the destruction of the greatest enemies of food fish. Air Roughlcy detailed the methods of shark fishing used by a. company which is operating with success in Australian waters. As the industry extended, lie said, it would lie found convenient to discard a land base in favour of a mothership, which could be moved from place to place as the shark trawlers depleted successive areas. Shark leather, Air Roughlcy said, had been proved to be of great use commercially, since it is quite as pliable as other leathers, and yet, being very bard, did not show scratches. It has been used for shoes, handbags, wallets, tobacco pouches and similar articles, and has been found to wear far better than other leather. “When the industry is firmly established.” concluded the lecturer, “it will lie found more profitable to work in northern tropical waters, where the sharks are very-.iiinch biggec than on the New South Wales coast.”