No. I (1 91 7) EDIBLE MOLLUSCS 43 



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

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

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

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

 shells, say a total of 1 50 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 lines 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 Pey Kanavai — 

 literally " Devil squid " — the exact equivalent indeed of "Devil- 

 fish," the popular English name of the Octopus. The fishermen 

 say they call it so, because of the devilish restlessness which it 

 exhibits when taken from the water and the impression of concen- 

 trated malignity which its appearance and habits make upon them. 

 Often on the Pearl Banks, I have come across small ones hiding in 

 empty pearl oyster shells ; they certainly do appear uncanny in 

 their activity when attempting to escape ; they dash hither and 

 thither like some great fleshy spider of the sea, their arms writhe 

 and twist with a speed the eye cannot follow ; small as these are, 

 the play of the little suckers closely set over the arms is unpleasant 

 on the skin and to restrain them is as difficult as to hold a globule 

 of quicksilver. Their eyes, huge for their size, are too human to be 

 pleasant, and it is no wonder the fishermen think they have a 

 devil's malevolence and ingenuity. They credit them too with a 

 great deal of sagacity ; amongst other clever tricks attributed to 

 them, is that when they enter an empty shell, they are careful to 

 close the entrance with a shell or piece of stone, as a screen 

 against their enemies, the crabs. I cannot vouch for the truth of 

 this story, but I think it may quite probably be true. They are 

 also said to sham death when they realize that they are finally 

 cornered. 



