A GIANT CUTTLE FISH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5665, 27 May 1879, Page 3

A GIANT CUTTLE FISH.

On Friday last news was forwarded to Professor Kirk by Archdeacon Stock that a giant cuttlefish had been cast ashore at Lyell Bay, about three miles from Wellington. Mr. Kirk proceeded to examine and measure the animal on Saturday last, but was then unable to complete the dissection, and went back again there yesterday, and has since returned fully satisfied with the result of his visit.

Upon examination Professor Kirk found that the cuttle was a ten-armed sepia, of . the species known to scientific men as Sepia tenthis. It is an unusually large specimen, measuring ten feet in length. The four smaller arms are four feet long, the two longer arms measuring six feet each ; and as a portion of the oar-shaped paddles have been broken off, they must have measured quite eight feet long when perfect. These arms now measure thirteen inches in circumference, at the thicker extremity. Across the body the carcase measures some twenty-nine inches, and the whole animal must have been a most formidable denizen of the deep when alive and in full enjoyment of its powers. Giant cuttles have been ere now oast up on the shores of Newfoundland, and it is believed that the carcase of the one in question is about the third largest of those of which there is any authentic record.

We understand that the beak, the cuttle bone (equivalent, to the skeleton of the fish), and the bony circles of the suckers, have been preserved, and that a full account of this New Zealand example of the devil fish will shortly be read before the Philosophical Society. It is a pity that some persons out of idle curiosity should have made numerous deep cuts across the body of the specimen, severing the cuttle bona into sections, and increasing the difficulties of the dissector very considerably. 1