The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-03-18
CephaIOpOds.

RECENT opportunities for studying the
nature and habits of the Cephalopodous
Nedd-footed) Mo,lusca have convinced
men of science that the Imagination of
Victor Hugo did not so far outstrip the
truth in his description of the cuttle-fish
as has been generally supposed. Speci-
mems of this monster of the deep that
have been within the last few years cap
tured near our own and foreign coasts
have revealed the fact that they are
among the most gigantic and for
midable animals that Inhabit the
earth. Mr.. w. Saville Kent, in a
recent monograph, and Prof. A. E.
Verrill, in the american Naturalist, have
given full and interesting accounts of
the giant cuttle-fish, containing most that
is known of the larger species up to the
present time.
Aristotle, Pliny, Aelian, Strabo and
other ancient writers have left testimony
TO the occurrence of colossal Cephalo-
pods in the waters of the Mediterranean.
Pliny gives an account of the capture
of one on the coast of Spain, which,
along with much eXaggeration, contains
some particulars that are undoubtedly
true. From that time, however, we hear
nothing of the existence of these ocean
appearance" II"' 'Co.p-laI.n stories of their
to mingle with the wild traditions of the
bordering countries. In 1889 a gigantic
Cepnalopod was captured on the shore OF
Zetland, and another of similar size was
stranded in the Gulf of Ulwangen in 1850.
In 1924 the travellers Quay and
GaImard encountered in the Atlantic
Ocean, near the equator, the skeleton of
an enormous cuttle-fish which had fallen
victim to the sharks. According to
their calculation the living animal must
have weighed 200 pounds. During Cook S
second voyage mutilated specimen was
picked up in the South Seas and for
warded to the Museum of the Royal Col
lege of Surgeons, London, and there ex-
amined by Prof. Owen. In 1854 gl-
gantic individual was stranded on the
coast of Jutland and, four years after,
one of the largest on record was met and
grappled with by Lieut.. Bayer, of tie
French corvette Alectou, between the
islands of Madeira and Teneriile. ltwas
found floating on the surface of the
water, having been probably disabled by
some means According to the account
it was thirty feet long, including its
arms, about twenty feet in circumference
at its largest part, and weighed, as
Figuer states it, about 1000 pounds. Its
flesh was soft, gelatinous, and of red
dish brick color.
Great efforts were made to secure the
monster by the use of musketry and har-
poons: but shots perforated its body
with no result beyond an effusion of
blood and foam and strong exhalation
of musk; while harpoons took no hold on
its impalpable flesh. Finally moose
was slipped over the creatures tail, and
thus it was being hoisted to the deck of
| the vessel when the rope cut through It's
body and only the posterior portion was
secured. The remainder sank out ol
reach and sight. The struggle with the
monster occupied above three hours Civ
ling sufficient time for a correct sketch OF
the scene, which was produced by one Of
| the officers on board.
From ten to twelve of these huge
| Cephalopods have been captured on oul
Atlantic coast. The most complete spec
linen that ever came under scientific
observation was taken at Logic Bay, st
Johns, Newfoundland, IN 1878. Its arms
got entangled in herring-net, rendering
the creature comparatively helpless; ye'
it was overcome by the fishermen only
when its head was severed from the
Rev. Mr. Hardy, of St. Johns, who haC
photographs taken of it, and furnished
several descriptions for scientific anC
secular journals The body Of this cut
tle-fish was about seven feet long, will
a girth of five feet; the two long arm
were twenty-four feet in length, and th'
six shorter ones each six feet in length
The horny, parrot-l like beak was the siz'
of mans fist; the sockets of the grea
eyes were four inches in diameter
and the color of the skin was pale-red
Another specimen, probably of tn
! same species, was captured at Coomos
Cove, Newfoundland. The body of thi
measured ten feet in length, and wa
nearly as large as hogshead. The Ion!
arms were forty-two feet long, and wer
the size of a mans wrist; the other arm
were six feet long; and the color of tn
skin and flesh was reddish. DIR. Honey
man, Geologist of Nova Scotia, gives tn
following description, taken from an eye
witness, of Capture in the Straits @
: Belle Isle, at West ST. Modent, CT III
: Labrador side: at was lying PEACEFUL
: in the water, when it was provoked b
g the punch of an oar. 1t looked fierce
= and elected much water from its funnel
/ it did not seem to consider it necessar
? to discharge its sepia, as mollusca of thi
! kind generally do, in order 10 cover the
{ escape. The length of the longest arr
: was thirty-seyen feet; the length of th
9 body fifteen feet; whole length fifty-tw
' feet. The bill was very large; the sucl
4 ers of its arms OF feet, by which it lay
7 hold, about two inches in diameter TT
!. monster was cut up, salted and barrele
: for dogs meat"
I This specimen was probably disable
: as the Cephalopods apparently new
float or lie quietly at the surface when
r health. They shoot through the wat
with great velocity and many species a
sociate in companies. AS they rema
deep below the surface, and moreover, |
= means OF their big eyes, are enabled I
# see and avoid objects afar off, we unde
/ stand why they are not more frequent
!, encountered BY vessels trayersing Il
e seas. The giant Cephalopods prohab