HUGE TURTLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 January 1939, Page 2

HUGE TURTLE

CAPTURED OFF CAPE BRETT. AMERICAN VISITOR’S CATCH. AUCKLAND, January 3. A huge turtle which had been seen by several deep-sea anglers in the vicinity of Cape Brett in the last few days was caught by an American visitor, Mr P. Godby, Montana. It turned the scale at 10621 b, being the heaviest marine creature to be weighed at the Bay of Islands. The turtle was seen two days ago by Dr T. H. Pettit, Auckland, president of the New Zealand Deep-sea Anglers’ Association from the launch Valhalla. Dr Pettit said the huge head appeared above the water about 20 yards from the launch. The neck alone appeared to be 10 to 12 inches in diameter. After looking at the launch the turtle dived and disappeared. The creature was also seen from the launch Lorna Doone. It was sighted again by Mr W. R. McPherson, Portsmouth, from his private launch today. When seen by Mr Godby, who was fishing from the launch Alma G., today it was about five miles from Cape Brett towards the Ninepins. The turtle took the bait on an ordinary deep-sea line and immediately jumped from the water and shot along the surface “like a torpedo.” An attempt to harpoon the turtle succeeded but it fought for an hour before it was brought alongside. It was found impossible to haul it into the cockpit, so it was towed to Otehei Bay where it was weighed.