A grisly fragment of a big game prize is part of the Puke Ariki Heritage Collection. In its wizened and clouded state, there is no doubt this billfish eye has lost its natural beauty but it still serves to stir curiosity about these migratory predators.
While most people would think of swordfish and marlin for their impressive pointed bills their eyes are just as fascinating. The fish have specialised cells that generate extra heat around the eyes and the brain, allowing them to react faster and see better, which helps them hunt better in deep cold water.
There are no detailed accounts about where this eye came from but an ageing paper label stuck to the back reads “Eye of swordfish caught at Russell, N.Z 1936.” By this time the Bay of Islands was well known internationally for its big game fishing, largely thanks to extensive coverage given by the brash American writer Zane Grey, who published colourful accounts of his exploits in Tales of the Angler’s Eldorado, New Zealand, that was published in 1926.
Search the Puke Ariki Heritage Collection
LinkPlease do not reproduce these images without permission from Puke Ariki.
Contact us for more information or you can order images online here.
The information on this website is provided for general research and reference only. While we try to keep content accurate and current, we make no guarantees about its completeness or correctness. It should not be considered a replacement for a LIM or a Property Report. Some content is supplied by third parties. Puke Ariki has not verified this content and users should check its accuracy before relying on it.The inclusion of a building on the website does not imply heritage status. See SCHED1 in the NPDC District Plan for a list of buildings that have rules about what can happen to or around them (administered by NPDC). See the New Zealand Heritage List for a list of buildings that are celebrated for their heritage significance but are not subject to rules (administered by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga). Should any corrections need to be made to the records or for more information please contact us.
