200 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN VOL. XIV, 



them, the flesh firm and not easily pulled from a hook, and the 

 odour tempting beyond measure to the fish sought after. 



To capture them long lines are prepared having some hundreds 

 of short branch lines tied on at intervals of from five to six 

 feet. To each of these branch lines a large Pterocera shell 

 {P. laiiibis) is attached, the apex and "fingers" being first broken 

 off. These lines are sunk on the bottom in places which these 

 Octopus frequent, and when lifted next morning many of the 

 shells are tenanted by Octopods that have sought concealment 

 therein. 



Every village on the Ramnad mainland fronting Palk Bay pos- 

 sesses these Octopus lines, and the number of Octopus thus caught 

 is very great indeed ; the industry is an important one both in 

 itself and because of the dependence thereon of the line fishermen, 

 who find it difficult to get other suitable bait if squid be wanting. 

 This bait fishery is said to have existed at Rameswaram a decade 

 ago, being given up when line fishermen abandoned this occupa- 

 tion, because, according to some, their boats being too small and 

 unseaworthy, fishing on the offshore banks was found to be too 

 dangerous for these timid and unenterprising souls. 



The number of shell-traps used on a Devilfish long line usually 

 runs to upwards of 800. The crew of a line-fishing boat on the 

 Tirupalagudi coast consists usually of five men, and each of them 

 when he joins, brings 5 or 6 lines, each armed with from 25 to 30 

 shells, say a total of 150 to 180 per man, or a grand total of 25 to 

 30 lines carrying 700 to 900 shells in all. The lines tied end to 

 end are laid out in a depth of 2^ to 3 fathoms of water, one end 

 being buoyed with a large wooden float. Each morning the fisher- 

 men haul the line and the attached shell-traps ; so common are these 

 small Devilfish that a considerable number of the shells are 

 tenanted by them. Enough for the day's requirement of bait are 

 removed, the line and its traps are relaid, and the fishermen 

 proceed to bait their fish hooks with the captured Octopus. 



Every third week or thereabouts the lines are brought ashore 

 and dried for a day to prevent rotting and then relaid for a further 

 active period. At the beginning of the rainy season lines 

 are brought ashore, dried, and stored till the rains are over. 



The most frequent name used for this creature is Pcy kaiiavni — 

 literally " Devil Squid " — the exact equivalent indeed of " Devilfish," 

 the popular English name of the Octopus. The fishermen say they 



