42 



MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN 



VOL. XI. 



fishermen as it makes thie best bait known to them — its flesh firm 

 and not easily pulled from a hook and its odour tempting beyond 

 measure to the fish sought after. 



To capture it, long lines are prepared having some hundreds of 

 a large Pterocera shell (P. lambis) attached at short intervals, after 

 having the apices and " fingers " broken off. These lines are 

 sunk on the bottom in places which this Octopus frequents, and 

 when lifted each morning many of the shells are tenanted by 

 Octopods that have sought concealment therein. 



Fig. 27.— The smai.i. Devii.iish {Oilopts sp.). Natural size. 



Every village on the Ramnad mainland fronting Palk Bay 

 possesses 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 fisher- 

 men, who find it difficult to get other suitable bait if it be 

 wanting. This bait fishery is said to have existed at Rameswaram 

 a decade ago, being given up when line fishermen abandoned this 

 occupation, because, according to some, their boats being small 

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

 too dangerous for these timid and unenterprising souls. 



