SHARK ON THE LINE

Released by Sterling Films for the home market in the 1940s, "Shark on the Line" was directed J.W. Trerise and E.L. Cranstone, and based on materials originally gathered by the Australian Dept. of Information. This short film depicts sharks in Australia, including the best waters for shark fishing. This film was produced with material provided by the Australian Department of Information (:15). The most fruitful waters for shark fishing are off the Queensland Coast of Australia (:26). Bull sharks cut through the water on the ocean floor (:33). The Queensland Game Fishing Association weighing station at Brisbane follows (:47). Fishermen load up a vessel with fishing gear and supplies for a trip (:58). The troupe stops at the lighthouse along their journey (1:25). Mail, newspapers and beer are moved from the fishing vessel to the lighthouse (1:28). Note: this appears to be the Moreton Bay Pile Light, which was destroyed in 1949 by a collision with a ship. Diving seagulls fly by as the vessel continues on its journey (1:46) informing the men of fish nearby. One of the men readies his fishing pole (1:55). Mackerel fight in the waters (2:06). As the mackerel is pulled onto the ships surface, a small fish is still seen in it’s mouth (2:11). Another fisherman harpoons one of the fish (2:26). The troupe sets course for the coral reef (2:55). The anchor is dropped here (3:00). The men fill balloons (3:13) in order to keep the lines from breaking on the coral. Dead fish are used for bait (3:21). One of the men adds dried blood into the water to further entice the sharks (3:33). They then relax as they wait for the sharks to take the bait (3:58). Some use the time to hand line fish for cod (4:10). Lines full of fish are pulled onto the surface (4:26). The line begins to move as a shark takes the bait (5:04). The battle to reel in the shark plays out (5:29). A fisherman awaits ready with a hook for the shark (6:23). It takes three hours to bring the shark in close enough (6:32). The shark is hooked here (7:00). A technique used is to keep the sharks head above water in order to make breathing difficult. The killed shark is then drug up onto the boat (7:39). A shark pennant is sent up to fly from the masthead (7:44). The film concludes as another shark is seen swimming in the water at the boat's edge (7:55). This was a Sterling Film (8:01).

Complete catalog record

Transcription

[Music] the best shark fishing waters in the world are off the queensland coast of australia [Music] sharks are big games and these were the killers we were after [Music] [Music] most of the toughest fighting fish in the world can be found in the waters into which we were heading [Music] on the way we paid a call at the lighthouse and welcome we were we brought mail newspapers and beer diving seagulls are a sure sign of fish possibly only a school of small ones but there's an even chance that tuna or mackerel are attacking smaller fish and the gulls are diving for bits left over by the marauders [Music] it's mackerel all right and they're fighting fish if you look closely in a moment you'll see that he still has a small fish in his mouth [Music] feather lures are being used and the lines are rocked back and forth to simulate the movement of small fish spanish mackerel weigh up to 100 pounds and although this one isn't quite that size he still is far from easy to handle if you don't believe us try it sometime [Music] we set our course for the coral reef and then it's drop anchor sharks don't go after traveling bait [Music] balloons are used to keep the lines from snagging on the jagged coral dead fish for bait two hooks to align [Music] and as an added attraction dried blood [Music] now quiet waiting the reels look after themselves they'll scream loudly enough if the bait is taken it's too quiet for some of us and we try our luck at hand line fishing for carl trout and cod this is easy but fun watch out now they bite this time we're just a little more careful three feet more careful [Music] nothing seems to be happening but below the surface attracted by the blood a shark is approaching shark on the line [Music] it requires a lot of play to keep that line intact for the cord has a breaking strength of 72 pounds [Music] there's 600 pounds of concentrated fury on the end of that line [Music] it takes us almost three hours to bring the shark close enough to gaff and even then he's a tough customer [Music] so [Music] the trick is to keep his head well above water making it hard for him to breathe now it's nearly over [Music] it's a job well done [Music] let's head for home with a shark pennant flying from the masthead [Music] and in the story tomorrow the one that got away will get bigger and bigger [Music] you

Sources

YouTube channel: PeriscopeFilm · video ↗ — title, year, format, description, catalog record, video

Original permalink · Record added 2025-01-23 16:42:20