44 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN VOL. XI, 



The Poisonous Devilfish (Octopus sp.). 



Tamil — Visha humvai {<c^ei% semeu/nij). 



Another species of small Octopus called Visha kanavai (literally 

 "poisonous kanavai ") is occasionally caught in shell traps in the 

 relative proportion of one or two per cent to the number of the 

 Pcy kanavai. The fishermen make no use of it as they say no fish 

 will take it as bait. I have not seen it alive, but from dead speci- 

 mens it is seen to be a slender-armed Octopus, looking very much 

 like an immature example of the larger Octopod called Kundal 

 kanavai at Tirupalagudi. 



The common belief is strong that it is endowed with marked 

 poisonous qualities ; when caught it is usually thrown overboard at 

 once. The fishermen say that it is equally active as the Pcy 

 kanavai and if it has the chance will fasten on a man's leg or 

 foot and bite through the skin. The sensation is likened to the 

 sting of a scorpion and if a remedy is not quickly applied, the 

 limb will swell and a feeling of giddiness will be experienced. 

 The accepted remedy is a curious one; betel juice is expectorated 

 upon the place or chunam (slaked lime) smeared over the wound 

 as soon as possible. Then, when shore is reached, jaggery (palm 

 sugar) is rubbed over the place bitten and a dog being brought, is 

 induced to lick the jaggery off ; in so doing, it is believed that the 

 poison will also be removed. In spite of this curious and com- 

 plicated treatment, the effects of the poison are said sometimes 

 to be experienced for several months afterwards, the usual com- 

 plaint being that of a continued swelling of the leg bitten. 



Although the bite of the Visha kanavrd is esteemed so poison- 

 ous, the flesh is considered innocuous and when accidentally 

 brought ashore with other species, it is cooked and eaten together 



with them. 



UNUTILIZED SPECIES. 



Besides the kinds of shellfish above enumerated, which are 

 themselves only partially utilized for food supply on the Madras 

 coasts, there are several others, often occurring in considerable 

 abundance, that are not eaten in this Presidency although they 

 are all wholesome, highly nutritious and freely used as food in 

 other parts of the world. This difference in habit appears to have 

 a racial significance, for, of the Asiatic races, it is those of Mongo- 

 lian stock which exhibit real and keen liking for such food. The 

 Dravidians of India appear to have no innate liking for shellfish . 



