SHARK FISHING

Taranaki Daily News, 17 January 1920, Page 12

SHARK FISHING

HOW IT IS DONE AT MAXATANA. Shark fishing as an industry is carried on to a certain extent at Matakana,about 40 miles north of Auckland. Even in pre-Furopean days the coast in tliSa locality was noted for its infestment by sharks, and the name Matakana, which means "putrid fish," is said to have been given to it by Maoris from the malodorous stench arising from the practice of drying on the beaph catches taken from the prolific waters of the coast. The reason for the abundance of the fish at certain seasons of the year is that they swarm into shallow water off Matakana for breeding purposes in the summer months, and then readily fall a prey to fishermen. Some years ago a factory was opened in the district, witn the object of extracting oil from the livers of sharks for medicinal uses, and rendering down the carcases to convert them into fertiliser. The fins were saved and dried for exportation to the Far East, where they are esteemed a delicacy by Chinese < picurea. The factory at present is idle, but the industry of oil extraction and export of fins, and use of the flesh as a fertiliser is still carried on by Mr. Fred. Green, a settler in the district, and in a smaller degree by other farmers. The present is the time of the year when-sharks abound on the Matakana flats. An Auckland visitor to the district during the holidays witnessed the capture of several formidable fish !>ft to 10ft in length, and on Mr. Green's expeditions for manufacturing purposes it is not uncommon to secure from 100 to ■l5O in a day, mostly in large dimensions. In securing them •stout, manilla lines are used, with strong hooks, and the lure is generally the flesh of the kahawai. To attract the fish it is usual to squeeze out on the surface of the water a quantity of oil from the livers of previously caught sharks, an expedient which seldom fails to bring to the locality some of the largest scavengers lurking in the neighborhood. case of the largest fi*l> it is usual to play them for some time, occasionally hauling them up to the boat's side, and there hitting them upon the snout with a heavy mallet until they are sufficiently exhausted to be ultimately kept alongside, and despatched with a knife. Smaller sharks, say of 4ft or sft, can safely be brought into the boat at the first haul, and there put out of their misery \vi;h a mallet.