A BIG CUTTLEFISH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17263, 2 September 1916, Page 7

A BIG CUTTLEFISH.

CAUGHT NEAR CAPE COLVILLE. A large cuttlefish was caught by the crew of the'trawler Baroona while fashing off Cape Colville on Monday (say's the “ New Zealand Herald )• The specimen was displayed in a shop window in Auckland, and 1 attracted the attention of hundreds of passers-oy. The fishermen had an exciting time when tfie cuttlefish was hauled from the net into the trawler, and its .arms, with their rows of “ suckersj oausocl not a little apprehension. It was soon killed, however. The tentacles were found to measure 10ft in length, so that, with its body, it was over 20ft across. It is considered by experienced fishermen to be one of the largest specimens of the kind caught uear Auck- • There are various types of cuttlefish. The larger varieties are to be found 1 in the Atlantic Ocoan, near the shores of Newfoundland. A giant cuttlefish of the octopus class was stranded at Cape Campbell, South Island, in 1886. The arms of the specimen measured 18tt lOin, and, with its body, it was 28lt 10in across. At Lyall Bay, Wellington a case is on record where a cuttlefish of a variety little known in New Zealand waters was caught. It bad two tentacles, each measuring 46ft, and eight arms, each measuring 6ft in length. Cuttlefish have repeatedlybeen caught in and about the vicinity of Cook Strait, and tho dimensions ol the larger specimens have varied from 20ft to 35ft across. Not long ago an instance was reported where a child was caught by an octopus at Islaud Bay, Wellington. The victim was being slowly drawn beneath the surface of the water, and the attempts of tbe mother to save it proved of no avail. Luckily, a man who. was near lent his assistance, and the child was rescued from a terrible death.