Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1891-12-19
ABOUT THE OCTOPUS.
TIE CuTTLE FISH STANDS
ALONE AMONG FISHES.
II Appears Almost Insensibls to Pain
Its stomach Is Its Only vital Part
Monsters With Arms
Thirty Feet Long.

Although dignifed BY the name OF
fish, the cutie fish has nothing in
common with the finny inhabitants Of
the sea, save that its existence is
passed beneath the surface OF the
water. 1t stands alone apart from all
| living creatures, with scarcely point
OF resemblance to any OF them. its
nearest relations being perhaps, the
sea anemones-th logely inhabit-
ants Of pools among rocks The cutie
| fish varies in size from the squid be-
| loved by gourmands who dwell on the
shores OF the Mediterranean. to the
monster octopus who throws his arms
round boats and drags them to the
bottom. Some indeed, in the Indian
seas are reported TO grow TO size that
renders them formidable even TO ships.
wrapping them in its embrace and
dragging the sailors from the deck or
shrouds. Bodies have been cast ashore
whose arms have measured thirty feet
In length and these could well pluck
a sailor from the deck OF ship.
The octopus appears almost insenslbic
To pain and the hacking OF OF one or
more of its tentacles does not seem TO
cause il any Inconvenience. Its body
or rather its stomach--is its only
vital part and even this must be al
most cut into pieces before II will re-
linquish the hold il has obtained OF It's
prey. The beak Of parrot il the
last thing one would expect to find in
the center Of these waving tentacles
and nature apparently placed IL Their"
as the browning effort IN tho work OF
construction OF this monster
Among birds. beasts and fishes we
may seek in vain for prototype Of
the octopus. Happily there Is every
reason for supposing that the fish
which forms the staple OF the diet Of
octopus suffer little In tho process oi
destruction. Fish are certainly al
most II not entirely insenslble 20 pain.
and there Is no reason 10 suppose that
they are gifted with strong powers Of
imagination; il may therefore be- be-
lteved that although a fish may struggle
TO escape from the gripo. the tcutacle.
Il feels no horror and that It's doom Is
hidden from 1t until the savage hoax
scizes H. and al once puts an end 10 It's
existence.
Some OF the cutie fish arc large
manufacturers Of ink. These instead
Of Uuchoring themselves 10 the bottom,
float near the surface. and their chance
of obtaining food would be- small wera
IL not for their power OF cjectlug Ink.
and thus cloud.ng the water and veil
ing themselves from sight-a habl,
which also affords them method OF
escape when themselves attacked by
the shark or other formidable enemy.
Seeing that the peculiar variety % ink
secreted by the cutie h,h Is Of very
valuable kind. il is somewhat remark.
able that no entcrprisug manufacturers
has as yet taken the rnntter il hand
and established nm aqueous farm for
the breeding and rearing Of cutie fish.
Indian ink and scpia are both 40
valuable says the sat Evening Post
that such an enterprise ought 10 pas
handsome profits and II the oyster
, can be cultivated. why not tho cutie
fish, II would, Of course. DO neccs
. sary that the retaining walls Of the
gigantic aquarium indicted should b,
imperyious TO the passing Of cuttl,
fish even in their earliest stage; iol
otherwise its proprietors would b.
liable very speedily 20 be indicated Al
"a nuisance by tho lodging. house keep
ers and owners OF bathing machine
Of the nearest seaside watering places
, But this could doubtless DO effected
and then no argument could be adduc
ed that the cutie fish should neccssar
, lily be n nuisance TO the ncighbors tina
would not equally apply 10 tho vii,
> beasts AT menagerie. In the latte
case one occasionally breaks out ant
r causes CONSERVATION and, possibly
damage, and even II an octopus shOul,
e do the same there could be no yer,
valid ground for complaint. 40 tn
squid when cooked furnishes n somo
: what gclatinous food not altogethe
: dissimilar to calves head. it is proba
: BILE that tho flesh Of tho larger vario
: ties might be utilized for the manufac
ture Of mock turtle and another sOurc,
!. Of revenue would. therefore. be opel
to their breeders. II Is clear iron
these remarks that the cuttlo fish ha
not hitherto received tho careful con
= sideration that II deserves. and tina
{ the dislike we feel for its form an,
2 habits has blinded us TO the benefit
/ that might with culture and domesticn
: ton be derived from him.
1 The DEVILS Table.