Coogee's one–shot champion
Prompt killing of the small shark that got into Coogee bathing pool last week was possible because of Coogee’s new craze for underwater fish spearing.
Gear for this sport is the invention and patent of Mr. Frank Cunliffe of Coogee. And you have to be an ace swimmer.
The weapon is a polished steel spear almost 4ft. long and half an inch through. A piece of rubber like a thick tourniquet forms a shanghai which holds the end of the spear.
The spear carries two barbs.
Price of the outfit is six pounds. Mr. Cunliffe makes them now.
Underwater the spear will shoot 30ft. For a shark it has a range of five to 10 feet.
Rest of the outfit is a mask to aid vision, a leaded belt, and a string to hang your fish on.
One of the keenest recruits to the sport is Jack Fletcher of the RAN. An operating theatre attendant at Randwick Hospital, he spends his spare time spear–fishing and swimming.
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