CATCHING A SHARK.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 99, 17 October 1911, Page 3

CATCHING A SHARK.

ADVENTURE AT TILE CHATHAM'S. Christehurch, October 13. For weeks the fishermen of the Kaingaroa fishing station, Chatham fslapds, had been pestered with a huge shark of | the "Tiger" variety whilst fishing on the Oape Young cod-banks. The monster, which was variously estimated at . from fifteen to thirty feet in length, seemed to possess an insatiable appetite, his particular fancy being 3lb. lead sinkers, with an occasional sash-weight as a savoury. PREVIOUS EFFORTS FRUITLESS. Several efforts were made by the crews of different launches to capture tilt, monster, but for weeks he defied all efforts, leisurely swimming round ana round the launches, robbing the lines of both cod and gear. Mr. Myers and party, in Mr. McLean's launch, were the first to hook "Charlie Young'," as the shark had been nicknamed, but he made a hearty meal of their Vjin. steel hooli and went on his way rejoicing. On the following day the crew of tin Mina enticed him on to a hook manufactured out of an old crowbar, baited with a. 101b hapuka. This was his first "taste of worry in this life. He got really angry when he couldn't free himself

from the iy 2 in manila line that held him to the boat, and he took the Mina foi nearly an hour's cruise, but even a shark gets tired of dragging a 32 ft. launch round the Pacific, so he changed his tactics, and began to kick. That did tlie trick for him. H« straightened the hook as though it were copper wire, and once more roamed the ocean, a free and independent fish. ANOTHER ATTEMPT. He evidently enjoyed the excitement, for a week later he again tackled the same took,' which had been shaped again and hardened this time. Messrs. Myers and GrenneH'.s launches came to the MLna's assistance, and ''Charlie's" days appeared to be numbered. lie wag brought to within a fathom of the boat and appeared all but spent. As he came to the surface 11. (trenncll, jun.. hurried a harpoon into him, but "Charlie" was not dead yet. The harpoon prick made him very wrath, and a water-spout was only a rain bubble compared with the commotion be set up when he got to work with his propcllor. 110 went, without saying "good-bye" or even having the courtesy to return with the hook or harpoon. CAUGHT AT LAST. For about a week after this he avoided serious trouble, although he kept, going strong on the sinker diet, and then came the end. It was an off-day for fishing, and Mr. Myers' launch had the ocean to itself. "Charlie" happened along in his usual friendly way and opened out on half a hapuka that was hiding a hook of inch steel. His digestion proved inadequate, and be died, but he died as heroes die, lighting to the last. He towed the launch half way to the "Sisters" rocks from Cape Young, a distance of seven miles, before showing signs of tiring, but when half drowned and secured with lines tfore and aft to the launch, he proved an ugly customer, snapping his huge jaws viciou.-lv and lashing the water into a foam with his broad tail. LAST .SCENE OF ALL.

Finally flic knives were got to work ami "Charlie" gave up the ghost. Hi' was fur (no wei<rlily to haul aboard, .-iiiil some idea, of t!ie moiHi.cr\ jrirtli may lie formed from Hie fact that two men were able to stand upon his back and work with their knives in cutting o/l" his head. Although only IRfl in length his girth was enormous. 1 lift !l!n round Hie belly. The. heail panii"d onl. 214 teeth. but many were damaged. Tin' Jtkfsrcr ones measured l«j:n across the base, and nearly Sin in length.