The Flying Squids and Giant Squids 



Keeping an eye on this fascinating luminary they often run 

 aground most unexpectedly, and exhaust their water supply and 

 empty their inkbags in ineffectual attempts to get back to the 

 water. This is theory, to be sure, but as stranded schools of 

 squid are much more frequent at the time of the full moon, 

 quite independent of winds, the belief is established among long- 

 shore folk as a fact. 



In the Gulf of St. Lawrence and down the New England 

 coast fisherman devise moons of their own by setting torches or 

 other brilliant lights in the bows of their boats, and then rowing 

 shoreward. The squids, gazing on the approaching light, swim 

 backward and are befouled on the bank before they know it. 



Fires set along shore lure thousands of squid into shallow 

 water where the receding tide leaves them helpless, the harvest 

 of the thrifty fishermen who built the bonfires. Devices for 

 catching squid are manifold, for bait is in constant demand by 

 fishing smacks. One hundred thousand squid have been con- 

 sumed in a season by a single schooner on the Banks. 



The Sea Arrow (0. sagittaius Lam.), is slenderly built, with 

 the broad, pointed fin attached high on the back, and a sharp tip 

 for cleaving the water. The neck is small, allowing the head 

 free motion. When swimming slowly, the webs of the arms and 

 the fins are seen to be in use without the funnel, and the progress 

 is forward. 



This creature is usually about fifteen to eighteen inches 

 long. It inhabits northern waters chiefly, and is taken in vast 

 quantities to be used as bait. This and the next species form 

 the favourite food of cod. And cod are in the best condition after 

 feeding awhile on squid. They take this bait better than any 

 other, when it is fresh. 



The Short-finned Squid (0. illecehrosus, Verrill) is also 

 captured thus by the thousands on the New England coast to 

 use as bait for blue fish, striped and black bass, and other kinds 

 of deep sea fish. 



THE GIANT SQUIDS 



Genus ARCHITEUTHIS, Steenstrup 



The largest known cephalopods now living. Body ten to 

 fifteen feet long; tentacles thirty to forty feet long. The horny 



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