ing the monster. Guns were charged and harpoons hastily prepared ; 

 but at the first discharge of the former, the animal dived under the ship 

 and immediately appeared on the other side. Attacked again with har- 

 poons, it disappeared two or three times, and each time that it reascended 

 to the surface, its long arms writhed. The ship followed or arrested its 

 course according to the movements of the animal. This chase lasted 

 more than three hours. The commander of the Alecton was determined 

 to capture this new kind of enemy ; nevertheless, he did not dare 

 to lower a boat, for a single arm of this cephalopod would suffice 

 to overturn it. The harpoons which were launched at it penetrated the 

 flabby flesh and came out without success ; several balls traversed 

 it also unsuccessfully. Nevertheless, it received one of them, which 

 appeared to wound it badly, causing it to vomit a great quantity 

 of frothy matter and blood mixed with viscid matter, which spread 

 a strong odor of musk. It was at this instant that they succeeded in 

 lassoing the animal, but the rope slid along the elastic body until arrested 

 by the fins. Attempting to haul their prize aboard, they had already 

 drawn the greater part of the animal from the water when its enormous 

 weight caused the rope to penetrate the flesh and separate the posterior 

 portion of the body, which was drawn on board, whilst the rest disap- 

 peared in the sea." 



The capture of a large cephalopod off the coast of Ireland is thus 

 related, although the account is slightly exaggerated: 



" On Monday last, the crew of a curragh, consisting of three men, 

 met with a strange adventure northwest of Boffin Island. Having shot 

 their spillets (or long lines), in the morning, they observed to seaward 

 a great floating mass, surrounded by gulls; they pulled out, believing 

 it to be a wreck, but to their great astonishment found it to be a cuttle- 

 fish of enormous proportions, and lying perfectly still, as if basking 

 on the surface of the water. A knife was the only weapon on board. 

 The cuttle is much prized as a bait for coarse fish, and the crew resolved 

 to secure at least a portion of it. Considering the great size of the 

 monster, and knowing the crushing and holding powers of the arms, 

 open hostility could not be resorted to, and the fishermen shaped their 

 tactics differently. Paddling up with caution, a single arm was suddenly 

 seized and lopped off. The cuttle, hitherto at rest, became dangerously 

 active now, and set out to sea at full speed in a cloud of spray, rushing 

 through the water at a tremendous rate. The canoe immediately gave 

 chase, and was up again with the enemy after three-quarters of a mile. 

 Hanging on the rear of the fish, a single arm was attacked in turn, 

 while it took all of the skill of the men to keep out of the deadly clutch 



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