Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-01-26
Cantnrinp a Huge Cnttle Flsh.


In an article on this monster Of the
ocean New York paper says: II is only
occasionally that these monsters venture
TO attack fishermen, but Mr. Harvey says
that on the second Of November, 1879,
Stephen Sherring, a fisherman residing
in Thimble Tickle, was out in boat
with two other; not far from the shore
they observed some bulky object, and
supposing il might be portion of 3
wreck rowed toward it, aud to their
horror found themselves close 10 a huge
fsh having large CLASSY eyes, which was
making desperate efforts to escape, and
churning the water into foam by the mo-
tion Of its immense arms and tail. II
was aground, and the tide was ebbing.
From the funnel at tho back Of its head
it was g Getting large volumes Of water
this being its method OF moving back
ward the force Of the stream by the re-
aston Of the surrounding medium driv-
ing it in the required direction; at times
the water from tho siphon was as black
rs ink. Finding the monster partially
disabled, the fishermen plucked MP
courage and veniured near enough to
throw the grapDcl Of their boat, the
sharp hukes of which, having barbed
points, sank into the soft body.
To the grspnsl they had attached =
stout rope which they carried ashore
and fastened to tree so as to pre-
vent the fish from going ont with the
tide. 1t was happy thought. for the
devil.fsh found himself cffectually
moorsd to the shore. His struggles
were terrific as he flung his ten arms
about in dying agony The fishermen
took good care to keep ct a respectful
distance from the long tentacles which
ever and anon dsrted out like great
tongues from tho central mass. At
length IT became exhausted, and as the
water went ont IL died. It was the
largest specimen ever taken, the body
alone measuring twenty feet from the
beak to the extremity of the tail; one
Of the long arms was thirty five feet in
length, and the whole animal was twice
as largo rs the one exhibited at the
New York aquarium. From these ac-
counts 1t would seem that the maximum
length OF these giants of the sea, as far
- known, Is from fiity-fve to sixty feet.
bat there is no reason to doubt that they
greatly exceed this living in the greater
depth Of the ocean.
A great number of species are known,
but most Of them are extremely small
when compared 20 the giant squid of
the NorthAtlantic, many of them being
hardly over foot in length, but in gen.
eral appearance they resemble their
huge relative Their power of throwing
ink and water from the siphon must be
great; the writer has observed q small
squid throw . stream three feet from
the water with dire effect upon an en-
thusiastic naturalist. The black staring
eye, nearly as large as plate in the
large ones, presents striking appear
ance. resembling greatly that organ In
vertebrate animals, but the resemblance
is superficial, - the eye Of the squid is
formed upon the same plan A. that of
the snails; the bills resemble those OF
. parrot, only larger, and tbs upper one
iits into the lover Strange 10 cay the
pen that supports the body Of the giant
squid is extremely fragilo, while in The
small sepia OF the Mediterranean sea II
ia formed of limestone and familiar ~
the cattle.fsh bone" OF commerce.
A book with loose Leaf should Be