The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1901-02-20

tuae' alteT neVlpS eAa~GSleu INC E,S
able food supply on that side of the
strait, the overplus migrated in swsrms
across the Channel 20 England.
First there was an abnormal multi.
pllcation of the poulps in the neighbor-
hood of the Chauucl Island and along
the French coast; then came oye1crowd-
ing and consequent scarcity of food
aud finally armies Of octopods advanced
scross the Channel to the English shore.
One of tho first signs Of its arrival upon
the shores OF Devon and Cornwall was
the appesrenc of great numbers of
crabs which had been driven into the
shallow waters by the marauding mol
lusks. The latter enter tho traps of the
fishermen and destroy the Holsters and
crabs which have been caught, and
sometimes the seines are literally bur
dened with the Sritaing, lulpy mon
sters.
The + male octopus makes her nest in
any sheltered and convenient hollow in
ths rocks. There she lays her eggs,
which Ia due time hatch out young oc.
topods. One of the curious phenome-
ma In noldentsl to the recent plague has
the tiLding Of immense numbers of
minute poulps, not long hatched, and
hardly bigger than grains of rice. Not
much is known as TO their rate of eroW-
tn but IT is believed that they do not
reach full size until they arc about
years old.
The presence Of tho devil fishes in
such great numbers in, tie English
Channel being due to the unusual CON
dltlons, 1t is expected that the plaque
will not last very long. Oae severe
winter would probably destroy a najor
ity of them. Meanwhile, however, de-
Vourlng immense numbers of o,sters as
well as edible crustaceaus. and scienti-
hc experts have been trying to find
some means whereby the enemy may
be fought In Plymouth Sound ex-
perimeuts have been made recently in
hshlng Tor the pou!ps with pots such as
are used IN the Mediterranean.
In tho Mediterranean tho octopus is
regularly tshed for and used for food.
PItcher-shaped esrthern pots are attach
ed at fixed intervals to long line aud
lowered to the bottom, the cord TO
which they arc fastened being buoyed
at the ends 30 that it may be found
again. Every few days the line is haul
CD up and it is not uncommon to ind
every one Of the pitchers occupied by A
devil fish. The poulp, being & soft
bodied animal it is an easy prey to many
enemies, and on this account it eagerly
takes advantage of any suitable shelter.
The jugs, which are not baityd in any
way, afford ideal places Of eonceslment,
the octopus occupying the interior and
spreading its ten.aoles from the mouth.
Hence the effectiveness of these queer
traps
The octopus has eight ten aclos of
equal length r'idiating from its central
mass and armed with suckers. It's bab-
1t IS to Turk in some dark Granny in tho
rocks, waiting for an unwary victim to
venture within reach. With three or
four of its arms it clings fsst to a rock,
while with the remaining ten taoles wav,
ing, gliding and feeling about in the
water it keeps Oh the aleItfor prey. A
man coming within its reach is likely to
be instantly embraced. Instantaneously,
as the pull Of trigger, the pistous of the
hundreds Of suckers on a tentaslo are
simultaneously drawn inward, tho air
is removed from the pneumatic holders,
a vacuum being created in each, and
the unfortunate is so completely pin
Toned that hardly struggle is possible.
Immediately the other tontacles not oc
eupied in clinging to the rock are wrap
ped about the victim, and he is drawn
into tho close hug Of the poulp, to be