Death of Captain L. D. Mitchell.

A recent cable recorded the death, at his home in California, of Captain L. D. Mitchell, the noted deep-sea angler. Colonel Mabin, whose articles in the Magazine on deep-sea fishing at the Bay of Islands will be remembered, has kindly supplied the following biographical note on the late captain's career:—

“Captain Mitchell was a retired British officer, who, after serving in the Great War, joined the staff of Mr. Zane Grey, the American novelist and angler. It was during the 1925–26 fishing season that the late Captain Mitchell first visited New Zealand, with Mr. Zane Grey's fishing expedition, and on February 25th, 1926, while camped at the Bay of Islands, he landed, successfully, the world's record black marlin swordfish, which turned the scales at 976 pounds. This catch still constitutes the world's record for this species of fish. The marlin took Captain Mitchell three hours forty-five minutes to land, towing the launch ten miles out to sea.

Apart from being acknowledged the most skilful deep-sea angler of his time, his fame as a sportsman was world-wide. Little did it matter whether Captain Mitchell was in the heart of the unknown wilds, in search of big game, or on the river bank casting a fly, or on the deep-sea fishing grounds in New Zealand waters, he was always a gentleman, and ever ready to give his kindly advice and help to anyone who wished it, especially to the novitiate.

No one could have done more, with a view to bringing New Zealand prominently before the outside world than Captain Mitchell. He loved our Dominion and was directly instrumental in inducing people from overseas to visit our country to indulge in deep-sea angling and to enjoy the many other attractions to be found here. The late Captain Mitchell was a walking encyclopedia as far as sport is concerned, and his death has deprived the Dominion of one who rendered a signal service in popularising its tourist and sporting attractions.”