78 GIGANTIC CEPHALOPODS. 



seized and lopped off. The cuttle, hitherto at rest, became 

 dangerously active now, and set out to sea at full speed in a cloud 

 of spray, rushing through the water at a tremendous rate. The 

 canoe immediately gave chase, and was up again with the enemy 

 after three-quarters of a mile. Hanging on the rear of the fish, 

 a single arm was attacked in turn, while it took all the skill of 

 the men to keep out of the deadly clutch of the suckers. The 

 battle thus continued for two hours, and while direct conflict was 

 avoided, the animal was gradually being deprived of its offen- 

 sive weapons. Five miles out on the open Atlantic, in their frail 

 canvas craft, the boatmen still slashed away, holding on boldly 

 by the stranger, and steadily cutting down his powers. By this 

 time the prize was partially subdued, and the curragh closed in 

 fairly with the monster. Such as remained of the ten great arms 

 slashed around through the air and water in most dangerous but 

 unavailing fashion. The trunk of the fish lay alongside, fully as 

 long as the canoe, while in its extremity, the mutilated animal 

 emitted successive jets of fluid, which darkened the sea for fath- 

 oms around. The head at last was severed from the body, which 

 was unmanageable from its great weight, and sank like lead to 

 the bottom of the sea. Of the portions of the mollusk taken 

 ashore, two of the great arms are intact, and measure 8 feet 

 each in length, and 15 inches round the base. The two ten- 

 tacles attain a length of 30 feet. The mandibles are about 

 4 inches across. The head, devoid of all appendages, weighed 

 about (> stone, and the eyes were about 15 inches in diameter. 



It is evident, from the supine condition of this monster, that 

 it was very sick or in a dying condition when attacked ; other- 

 wise, it would have escaped capture readily by diving. Certain 

 exaggerations in the above account are probably due to the ig- 

 norance rather than invention of the captors. 



In a further account of this animal,* Mr. A. Gr. More states 

 that: 



The tentacles were 30 feet long when fresh (14 and 17 feet can 

 still be made up from the pickled pieces), and a short arm 

 measured 8 feet in length, by 15 indies around the base. The 



* Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist., 4th ser., xvi, 



