REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [64] 
fortunately. The dimensions given are as follows : Length from tip of 
tail to root of arms, 10 feet 5 inches ; circumference, 6 feet; length of 
arms, 5 feet G inches. “ The beast had eight tentacles, as thick as a 
man’s leg at the root; horrid suckers on the inside of them, from the 
size of an ounce bullet to that of a pea at the tip ; two horrid goggle 
eyes ; and a powerful beak between the roots of the arms. His head ap¬ 
peared to slip in and out of a sheath. Altogether he was a most repul¬ 
sive looking brute.” 
It is probable that this specimen had lost its two tentacular arms be¬ 
fore death, and that it was actually of the same species as the other 
specimens recorded by Mr. Kirk. Mr. Kirk, however, seems to think 
that the above description refers to an Octopod. 
Ko. 2. “ The beak of number 2 was deposited in the Colonial Museum 
by Mr. A. Hamilton. The animal was captured at Cape Campbell by 
Mr. C. H. Robson, a member of this society, who very kindly furnished 
me with the following information. Writing on the 19th June, 1879, he 
says: 
“ ‘ In reply to yours of the 12th about the cuttle-fish, I may state that 
while stationed at Cape Campbell I found several specimens of large 
size, all, however, more or less mutilated, except one, the beak of which 
I gave to Mr. Hamilton. It was alive and quite perfect, the body being 
7 feet long, eight sessile arms 8 feet long, and two tentacular arms 12 
feet. I am, however, only writing from memory. Mr. Hamilton has 
the exact measurements, and I remember distinctly that the total length 
was close on 20 feet.’ 
u I am sorry to say that Mr. Hamilton has mislaid the notes and meas¬ 
urements, but those given above cannot be far out.” 
Ko. 3. The third specimen was examined and measured by Mr. Kirk, 
personally, where it lay on the beach. He also made a drawing of it, but 
it has not yet been published to m£ knowledge. It was found on the 
beach at Lyall Bay, May 23, 1879, by three boys. Mr. Kirk states that 
it had been somewhat mutilated by the natives before he saw it, and the 
pen or bone had been cut across ; but he preserved all the pieces of the 
pen, tlie beak, tongue, and some of the suckers. Most of the suckers 
had been torn off. 
“ The length of body from tip of tail to anterior margin of the mantle 
was 9 feet 2 inches, and 7 feet 3 inches in circumference; the head from 
anterior margin of mantle to roots of arms, 1 foot 11 inches; making the 
total length of the body 11 feet 1 inch. The head measured 4 feet in 
circumference. The sessile arms measured 4 feet 3 inches in length, and 
II inches in circumference. Each of these arms bore thirty-six suckers, 
arranged in two equal rows (as shown by the scars), and measuring from 
jf to 4 of an inch in diameter. Every sucker was strengthened by a 
bony ring armed with from forty to sixty sharp incurved teeth. The 
tentacular arms had been torn off at the length of G feet 2 inches, which 
was probably less than half their original length. 
