Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-08-01
GIANT FISH
Wins FIGHT
AGAINST 5
Valley Fishermen Are
Taken to Sea
By Ray

Five men faced death in the Gulf
or Mexico near the vicinity OF the
mouth Of the Rio Grande Thursday
when a giant ray fish as large as
their lS-foot boat pulled them
stern-first five miles from shore.
Leaving Point Isabel on the boat
Miss Sharyland with the intention
Of happening ray fish near the
mouth Of the river the party con-
sisting of DR.. j. A. Hockaday, Hal
williams. A. Won Allan, Nj. II. An
derson and Tim OLeary succeed
cd in landing a small whip-ray.
commonly known as a calico-ray,
off the coast near Boca Chica.
This ray is said to have been s.
feet wide. and Is now on display at
Point Isabel.
Hooks Big One
After their initial success, the
party continued TO the mouth Of
the river, where the harpoon was
sunk into the back OF a ray prob
ably s feet under the water. The
enormous size Of the fish was not
known until it came TO the surface
with a lunge, almost upsetting the
boat.
The fish was al least is feet
across. and ! don't know how long"
Tim OLeary. chief Of Point Isa-
bel police. said Friday morning. 1T
weighed between 1900 and 1000
pounds. / suppose
The second movement OF the giant
ray %accidentay knotted the rope
around the propeller Of Miss Shary-
land. and the boat began TO buck.
roll and dip as the fish fought the
harpoon.
Get Free Ride
I'VE tried TO cut the rope. but
were unable TO get TO IT," the Point
Isabel man continued. We shipped
lots of water and were busy bailing
OF the boat and holding on for life.
Sometimes the back end would al
most disappear under the water"
The men then searched for life
preServers. but il was found that
there were not enough TO 90 around.
The party, which originally m
tended going on the trip, consisted
Of but three men, and only this
number Of life preservers were on
board. The men decided to stick
together and fight it out.
After the first lunging and fight
ing. the giant ray started for the
open gulf, pulling the Miss Shary-
land out to sea backwards. or stern
first. The motor had little effect
against the gigantic fish. and the
propeller vas almost useless.
The gulf was fairly calm. but the
rolling Of the waves naturally are
felt in an 18-foot boat heavily
loaded. Added to this the boat was
being pulled to sea at a rapid pace.
the square stern first The men
were in continual danger.
Rope Breaks
The rope abruptly snapped after
the boat had been pulled approx
mately 5 miles out TO sea. and the
sudden shock OF the break almost
sank il. IL Is said.
The propeller was repaired. the
boat bailed out. and the homeward
trip began.
The men arrived at Point Isabel
late Thursday. considerably shak-
en-. The whip-ray was saved. and is
on display at the port city. II has
s stingers IN Its tail instead or the
customary one. Mr.. OLeary said
Friday morning. It is black with
white splotches, thus getting the
nickname calico ray
There are more ray fish in the
waters around here than ever be-
fore" the port police chief con-
cluded. The fish We harpooned
near the mouth was one OF a large
herd, all Of them apparently large"
happening ray fish is said to be
excellent sport. and several parties
from Brownsville and I'D the Valley
are planning on this for Sunday.
One party contemplates taking mo-
ton pictures OF a happening.
Several rays have been harpoon-
ed this summer, but few have been
landed.