CUTTLE FISH OR SQUID. 145 



covering made of canvas to protect himself from 

 the black liquid sepia which the fish discharges 

 the moment it is hooked, and which would cover 

 him from head to foot were he not so protected. 

 Two or three dozen are taken in this way of an 

 evening, and are cut in pieces an inch or two in 

 width and about six inches long for bait; congers 

 arc most particularly fond of it as food, wherefore 

 fishermen are most anxious to procure squid when 

 practicable for pursuing their conger fishing. 

 One species of the sepia officiiialis supplies the 

 curious cuttle bone of the shops, which is used by 

 silversmiths, and is sold as pounce ; it is exceed- 

 ingly light, and may be met with in great abun- 

 dance on all parts of the south coast, generally 

 washed up to high water-mark. The cuttle fish 

 of the Indian Ocean is a most formidable enemy 

 to the natives, as it grows to an enormous size, 

 and sometimes seizes the boats of the fishermen, 

 who carry axes for the special purposes of chopping 

 oft' their tentaculse, when they place them on the 

 boats' gunwales. 



10 



