MOLLUSCS. 



119 



edge of this the tubular siphon protrudes. The animal fills the mantle- 

 cavity with water, and then by violently contracting the mantle the water 

 is forced out through the siphon, the reaction produced forcing the animal 

 in the opposite direction. When the siphon is in the position shown in 

 the cut, the animal will go backward ; but tbe tube can be flexed in any 

 direction, and so the squid can by means of it dart straight forward or 

 move to the right or left. The whole of this swimming is well described 

 by the term ' pumping.' 



There is no sight more interesting than watching a small school of 

 squid in their native element, from the deck of a vessel. As the young 

 mackerel dart hither and thither, the squid follow them closely, now mov- 

 ing slowly, almost imperceptibly, now darting with the rapidity of a trout. 

 As they pass from one kind of bottom to another, — from one of white 

 sand to one of dark mud, — the color of every individual instantly changes 

 so as to correspond to the bottom and render them less easily distinguished. 

 Once in a while a person can see them catch their prey, — a sudden dart 

 backward, a quick turn to the right or left, and a fish is in their tentacles, 

 when a nip from the parrot-like beak cuts a bit from the neck of the 

 victim. Squid are largely nocturnal in their habits, and occasionally in 

 the morning the mud-flats will be found thickly covered with their stranded 

 bodies. The fishermen say that like moths they are attracted by a light. 

 and that often lured by the moon, they swim into shoal water, and that 

 when they touch the bottom they begin a vigorous pumping which as often 

 forces them on the beach as it does in the opposite direction. 



Squid are extensively used by fishermen as bait, and it is said that 

 cod will bite at nothing else as readily as at the flesh of these molluscs. 

 Around Cape Ann the fishermen depend mostly on seining 

 for their supply of squid, but farther north "jigging' is 

 resorted to, a process which has thus been described by 

 Mr. H. L. Osborn : " The only gear is a peculiar hook 

 called a 'jig' and a couple of fathoms of 'mackerel-line.' 

 No bait is employed. The jig is of lead, two inches or 

 thereabouts in length, armed at its base with sharply 

 pointed unbarbed pins radially arranged, and curving 

 upward and outward, as represented in the accompany- 

 ing figure. The jigging is conducted in water of from 

 eight to ten feet, usually from small boats, but occasion- 

 ally from the vessel's side. The jig is allowed to sink nearly to the 

 bottom, where it is kept constantly vibrating up and down, till the squid 

 is felt upon it. Frequently two jigs are used, one in each hand. 



" In its mode of taking the hook the squid differs from any other animal 



Fig. 110. — Squid-ji| 



