Fish Bat
Production date
1939
Current rights
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Object detail
Description
A wooden bat with a ball shape at one end known as a fish bat or 'fishing priest'. The wood, identified as pohutukawa, has four knots in it and is light brown in colour. Scrape marks, where the club has been fashioned, can be seen.The 'taper' or barrel has been signed and written on in black ink. It reads: "The Michael Lerner New Zealand-Australian Expedition of the American Museum of Natural History - Jan-Feb 1939, Capt Bill Hatch, William K Gregory, Lundovico Ferraglio, Artist and Preparator, James B Shakelford, photographer, G. Miles Conrad, Zoology, Frank H Ramsay, Photographer, Bill Hatch's Pohutukawa Special, Michael Lerner, Helen Lerner".
The donor's father was B.K.W. Gifford, Secretary of the Big Game Club on Mayor Island. The Lerners were from America and mounted an expedition and contacted Gifford. The souvenir is signed by all the members of the expedition, the purpose of which was to collect samples of marine life from these waters.
The donor's father was B.K.W. Gifford, Secretary of the Big Game Club on Mayor Island. The Lerners were from America and mounted an expedition and contacted Gifford. The souvenir is signed by all the members of the expedition, the purpose of which was to collect samples of marine life from these waters.
Production date
1939
Production place
New Zealand
Measurements
440mm (length) 55mm (width at thickest point)
Accession number
1101/06
Current rights