SEPIAD/E. CUTTLE. 261 



of Loligo. The Chinese have a special boat for the 

 Cuttle-fish fishery, which is carried on both by day and 

 night; and if by night a fire is lighted on deck, that the 

 glare may attract the fish to the surface. The season 

 for cuttle-fish extends from the second to the eighth 

 Chinese month (March to September), and the haul is 

 most abundant in the fifth, sixth, and seventh months 

 (June, July, and August). They are taken with nets, 

 and also with hooks. ... It is only in rainy weather 

 that Cuttle-fish are brought at once to the market and 

 sold fresh. In fine seasons they are dried in the sun 

 on the rocky islands, and then disposed of. ... To 

 dry Cuttle-fish they must be cut open and eviscerated, 

 and finally exposed on a bamboo mat in the sun. 

 When quite dry they are packed in wooden tubs and 

 flattened by the aid of human feet.* 



The flesh of the Loligo 9 or Squid, was highly esteemed 

 by the ancients, and Ephippus recommends the eating 

 of Squids and Cuttle-fish together. 



"And many polypi, with wondrous curls." 



A then., Deipnosopliists. 



And Sotades, the comic poet, introduces a cook, speak- 

 ing as follows : 



" To these I added cuttlefish and squills; 

 A fine dish is the squill when carefully cooked, 

 But the rich cuttlefish is eaten plain ; 

 (Though I did stuff them all with a rich forced-meat 

 Of almost every kind of herb and flower). 



Bk. viL c. 41, Athen., Deipnosophists. 



They are still exposed for sale in the bazaars and 

 markets in India. 



With us the Squid, or Squill, as it is sometimes called 

 at Weymouth, is only used as bait. It is good for 

 * Cliina, ' Imperial Maritime Customs.' 



